Kololo, Kyambogo, Mbuya residents petition over masts

By Paul Kiwuuwa

RESIDENTS of Kyambogo, Upper Kololo and Mbuya have complained over the increased number of telecommunication masts put up by Warid Telecom in residential areas.

In a five-page petition signed by over 50 families to the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, they complained of noise and exhaust fumes emitted by generators and the non-ionising radiation emitted by the masts. There are 87 residential houses located near Kyambogo University. Mbuya village is on Port Bell Road. Kololo is a posh residential area where mostly diplomats, government ministers and other civil servants reside.

WARID Telecom, Uganda’s fourth telecommunications company, opened shop in January.

Receiving the petition on Friday, the parliamentary committee chairperson on information communication and technology, Edward Baliddawa, said: “Warid Telecom should have involved the local community before erecting the masts in residential areas.”

However, the National Environment Management Authority executive director, Dr. Aryamanya Mugisha, said the masts had been approved by the International Telecommunications Union so they posed no health threats.”

Former health minister Maj. Jim Muhwezi, who is among the complainants from Upper Kololo, said a mast was put up next to his home.

“The generators run for the whole day. The noise is too much and the exhaust fumes are emitted into my house. I am likely to shift due to the imminent health hazards.”

The chairman of Kyambogo lower estates, Tim Kabasa, said the masts were dangerous. “We are alarmed by the hazards from the non-ionising radiations.”

Former education commissioner Steven Maloba, a resident of Kyambogo, said the security officers guarding the masts had no toilet facilities.