50 Masaka families face eviction from estate
Dec 31, 2007
OVER 50 families in Old Kumbu Housing Estate in Masaka Municipality face eviction if they do not clear rent arrears totaling to sh103m by January 31.
By Dismus Buregyeya
OVER 50 families in Old Kumbu Housing Estate in Masaka Municipality face eviction if they do not clear rent arrears totaling to sh103m by January 31.
The majority of the tenants are civil servants working with Masaka Municipal Council and the district local government.
The acting town clerk, Nick Begyira, confirmed to The New Vision on Friday that he had served the defaulters with eviction notices.
“Their arrears have accumulated to abnormal levels and we have no option but to take legal steps after the eviction exercise,†he said.
Begyira added that the evictions will mainly affect the residents of the municipal houses at Kizungu near the Presidential Lodge.
On the proposed plan to sell off the plots in Old Kumbu, Begyira said the issue is still subject to review. However, the mayor, John Tebyasa Matovu, has apposed the plans to sell off the plots. He said it was not in the interest of the people.
However, the tenants feel the municipal council should give them first priority to buy the plots while others have asked to be given more time to look for shelter elsewhere, especially those who say they cannot afford to purchase the plots that range between sh3m to sh5m.
“I have lived in the estate for more than 10 years. Where will I go if I am evicted,†wondered Joseph Mukasa, a father of 12 children
The municipal councillors proposed the sale of the plots to clear accumulated teachers’ salary arrears worth sh100m. Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) had withheld teachers’ salaries on grounds that the municipal council had evaded taxes. The council had to sell the town hall plot to Barclays Bank at sh150m to cover the debt owed to URA.
OVER 50 families in Old Kumbu Housing Estate in Masaka Municipality face eviction if they do not clear rent arrears totaling to sh103m by January 31.
The majority of the tenants are civil servants working with Masaka Municipal Council and the district local government.
The acting town clerk, Nick Begyira, confirmed to The New Vision on Friday that he had served the defaulters with eviction notices.
“Their arrears have accumulated to abnormal levels and we have no option but to take legal steps after the eviction exercise,†he said.
Begyira added that the evictions will mainly affect the residents of the municipal houses at Kizungu near the Presidential Lodge.
On the proposed plan to sell off the plots in Old Kumbu, Begyira said the issue is still subject to review. However, the mayor, John Tebyasa Matovu, has apposed the plans to sell off the plots. He said it was not in the interest of the people.
However, the tenants feel the municipal council should give them first priority to buy the plots while others have asked to be given more time to look for shelter elsewhere, especially those who say they cannot afford to purchase the plots that range between sh3m to sh5m.
“I have lived in the estate for more than 10 years. Where will I go if I am evicted,†wondered Joseph Mukasa, a father of 12 children
The municipal councillors proposed the sale of the plots to clear accumulated teachers’ salary arrears worth sh100m. Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) had withheld teachers’ salaries on grounds that the municipal council had evaded taxes. The council had to sell the town hall plot to Barclays Bank at sh150m to cover the debt owed to URA.