‘Iganga town unfit for municipal status’
Jul 22, 2009
IGANGA town is too disorganised to qualify for a municipality status, Ministry of Local Government officials have said. Steven Komma and Issa Gumunye, both senior assessment officers, told journalists at the Iganga Town Council offices on Friday that the
By George Bita
IGANGA town is too disorganised to qualify for a municipality status, Ministry of Local Government officials have said. Steven Komma and Issa Gumunye, both senior assessment officers, told journalists at the Iganga Town Council offices on Friday that the town was not well planned.
“We were mandated to assess improvements in Iganga town that warrant attainment of the much sought after municipality. “However, we discovered a lot of disorder, with some buildings constructed in the middle of streets,†Komma said.
The assesment officers inspected the sewerage system, dumping sites, water sources and street lights that all turned out to be non-existent or below standards.
“There are many houses with iron sheets which should done away with to pave way for modern structures expected in a municipality,†Gumunye said.
He also cited lack of a mandatory structural plan for the urban centre. “The political heads should cooperate,†Gumunye advised.
Recent moves by the town council to remove dilapidated structures were resisted by the resident district commissioner, Lubega Wagwa.
Wagwa argued that they should first work out a permanent re-settlement for the affected parties who had after all been given operational licenses by the town council.
Asuman Kyafu, the district chairman, explained that the disorganisation causing friction within the leadership stems from town council officials.
“The town council officers led by LC3 chairman Siraji Katono have nothing else to do apart from thinking about dubious deals,†Kyafu said.
Katono admitted that the town council had its shortcomings but hastened to add that the problems would not hinder its elevation to a municipality.
IGANGA town is too disorganised to qualify for a municipality status, Ministry of Local Government officials have said. Steven Komma and Issa Gumunye, both senior assessment officers, told journalists at the Iganga Town Council offices on Friday that the town was not well planned.
“We were mandated to assess improvements in Iganga town that warrant attainment of the much sought after municipality. “However, we discovered a lot of disorder, with some buildings constructed in the middle of streets,†Komma said.
The assesment officers inspected the sewerage system, dumping sites, water sources and street lights that all turned out to be non-existent or below standards.
“There are many houses with iron sheets which should done away with to pave way for modern structures expected in a municipality,†Gumunye said.
He also cited lack of a mandatory structural plan for the urban centre. “The political heads should cooperate,†Gumunye advised.
Recent moves by the town council to remove dilapidated structures were resisted by the resident district commissioner, Lubega Wagwa.
Wagwa argued that they should first work out a permanent re-settlement for the affected parties who had after all been given operational licenses by the town council.
Asuman Kyafu, the district chairman, explained that the disorganisation causing friction within the leadership stems from town council officials.
“The town council officers led by LC3 chairman Siraji Katono have nothing else to do apart from thinking about dubious deals,†Kyafu said.
Katono admitted that the town council had its shortcomings but hastened to add that the problems would not hinder its elevation to a municipality.