Govt should repossess prime land in the city
Jun 07, 2009
I was touched by the article, titled, “Bus operators protest high parking feesâ€, that appeared in The New Vision of June 2. The article highlighted the misunderstandings between Drake Lubega, the owner of the former Baganda Bus Park and the Uganda Bus
Godfrey Kisekka
I was touched by the article, titled, “Bus operators protest high parking feesâ€, that appeared in The New Vision of June 2. The article highlighted the misunderstandings between Drake Lubega, the owner of the former Baganda Bus Park and the Uganda Bus Owners and Operators Association.
Lubega, who owns the Qualicel Building, said he had ordered for 50 buses. This explains why he more than doubled the parking fees. These high parking fees are ultimately passed on to the passengers in form of increased fares and commodity prices.
How could Kampala City Council (KCC) fail to set the ceiling for the parking fees? Why does KCC exist and whose interests does it serve?
Lubega’s actions only spell doom for the country’s transport system. To solve some of the problems in Uganda’s transport system, the Government drafted the 15-year National Transportation Plan, but this is yet to reach Parliament.
A lot has been written about the chaos in our transport system — congestion, traffic jam, high accidents and pollution.
To solve these problems, the Government should reverse some of the bad decisions made by KCC. Why would a person with a heart for his country turn a bus terminal into a shopping mall without providing alternative parking?
The Government should use the relevant provisions in the Constitution to repossess the former Baganda Bus Park and Mukwano Arcade, due to their strategic location.
If we are to fight traffic jams by introducing buses, we need bigger bus terminals and separate lanes for them.
Since Uganda may not easily construct train subways due to their costs and the weak buildings in the city, emphasis should be on the introduction of buses and relocating those going upcountry to satellite towns or set up big terminals outside Kampala. This will improve on the traffic flow, while reducing pollution.
The long-term plan, however, should be the construction of a train system to link Kampala to other major towns in Uganda.
If the public transport system is reliable and charges fair rates, more people will be attracted to it, hence reducing on private vehicles and traffic jam in the city.
The writer is the principal town clerk of Wakiso town.
He is currently studying urban and regional planning at Massechusetts Institute of Technology
I was touched by the article, titled, “Bus operators protest high parking feesâ€, that appeared in The New Vision of June 2. The article highlighted the misunderstandings between Drake Lubega, the owner of the former Baganda Bus Park and the Uganda Bus Owners and Operators Association.
Lubega, who owns the Qualicel Building, said he had ordered for 50 buses. This explains why he more than doubled the parking fees. These high parking fees are ultimately passed on to the passengers in form of increased fares and commodity prices.
How could Kampala City Council (KCC) fail to set the ceiling for the parking fees? Why does KCC exist and whose interests does it serve?
Lubega’s actions only spell doom for the country’s transport system. To solve some of the problems in Uganda’s transport system, the Government drafted the 15-year National Transportation Plan, but this is yet to reach Parliament.
A lot has been written about the chaos in our transport system — congestion, traffic jam, high accidents and pollution.
To solve these problems, the Government should reverse some of the bad decisions made by KCC. Why would a person with a heart for his country turn a bus terminal into a shopping mall without providing alternative parking?
The Government should use the relevant provisions in the Constitution to repossess the former Baganda Bus Park and Mukwano Arcade, due to their strategic location.
If we are to fight traffic jams by introducing buses, we need bigger bus terminals and separate lanes for them.
Since Uganda may not easily construct train subways due to their costs and the weak buildings in the city, emphasis should be on the introduction of buses and relocating those going upcountry to satellite towns or set up big terminals outside Kampala. This will improve on the traffic flow, while reducing pollution.
The long-term plan, however, should be the construction of a train system to link Kampala to other major towns in Uganda.
If the public transport system is reliable and charges fair rates, more people will be attracted to it, hence reducing on private vehicles and traffic jam in the city.
The writer is the principal town clerk of Wakiso town.
He is currently studying urban and regional planning at Massechusetts Institute of Technology