Bukenya halts stone blasting in Wakiso
Nov 17, 2008
ENERGO Uganda, a road construction firm, has been told to halt operations at its stone quarry in Wakiso district until residents’ concerns have been addressed.
By Steven Candia
ENERGO Uganda, a road construction firm, has been told to halt operations at its stone quarry in Wakiso district until residents’ concerns have been addressed.
The Vice-President, Gilbert Bukenya, said the directive came from the President who ordered investigations into the dynamite blasts at the quarry.
Bukenya, who was accompanied by district officials, was visiting the stone quarry on Thursday.
He told Energo to suspend its operations for 10 days until safety measures like installing warning sirens were implemented.
Residents of Nalugombe and Kigoowa villages in Gombe sub-county, who filed numerous complaints, said the blasts damaged their houses.
They also said the blasts caused a reduction in animal production.
“The residents have complained about the noise and air pollution.
They say the blasts have also affected the milk and eggs production. and their gardens are littered with stones,†a statement from the Vice-President’s office said.
The President’s intervention followed a request by the district LC5 chairman, Beatrice Byakuwaba, the statement said.
Bukenya advised the firm to carry out horizontal excavations rather than the vertical explosions to mitigate the impact of the explosions.
He also asked the company management to relocate their clinical assistance from Migadde and Buwambo to Kirimuli parish to save residents from trekking long distances in search of treatment.
The resident district commissioner, Abass Sseguya, asked Energo to relocate the affected residents to other areas, adding that the residents can return after the completion of the quarry works.
He also criticised the company for doing shoddy work on damaged homes.
ENERGO Uganda, a road construction firm, has been told to halt operations at its stone quarry in Wakiso district until residents’ concerns have been addressed.
The Vice-President, Gilbert Bukenya, said the directive came from the President who ordered investigations into the dynamite blasts at the quarry.
Bukenya, who was accompanied by district officials, was visiting the stone quarry on Thursday.
He told Energo to suspend its operations for 10 days until safety measures like installing warning sirens were implemented.
Residents of Nalugombe and Kigoowa villages in Gombe sub-county, who filed numerous complaints, said the blasts damaged their houses.
They also said the blasts caused a reduction in animal production.
“The residents have complained about the noise and air pollution.
They say the blasts have also affected the milk and eggs production. and their gardens are littered with stones,†a statement from the Vice-President’s office said.
The President’s intervention followed a request by the district LC5 chairman, Beatrice Byakuwaba, the statement said.
Bukenya advised the firm to carry out horizontal excavations rather than the vertical explosions to mitigate the impact of the explosions.
He also asked the company management to relocate their clinical assistance from Migadde and Buwambo to Kirimuli parish to save residents from trekking long distances in search of treatment.
The resident district commissioner, Abass Sseguya, asked Energo to relocate the affected residents to other areas, adding that the residents can return after the completion of the quarry works.
He also criticised the company for doing shoddy work on damaged homes.