KCCA to demolish newly erected illegal structures

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has warned owners of illegal structures that are cropping up in the city and its suburbs, saying they will be demolished.

This comes after the recent events that saw a number of people erecting structures along areas that were earlier forbidden by the authority. The structures include kiosks, makeshift food outlets among others.

KCCA spokesperson Peter Kauju told New Vision on Monday that any structure that has not been approved by the authority is bound to be demolished.

"The authority has a physical planning committee that after a due process approves the erection of any structure in the city. Anyone who has not complied with that directive will have their structure put down," he explained.

He added that a number of city dwellers were given notice to stop construction from the physical planning unit but defied them.

Kauju reiterated that KCCA will demolish structures in wetlands, road reserves and poorly constructed structures.

"The authority is sending an enforcement team to assess the situation throughout the city and those found to have violated the directive would be dealt with," he stressed.

Towards the end of 2012, KCCA constituted a physical planning committee on the orders of the Minister for Kampala, Frank Tumwebaze.

The committee inspects sites, issues plans, enforcement notices and occupation permits. In addition, it approves plans and issues demolition orders.

Other duties of the committee are to plan the development of the functional urban design, infrastructure and administer land management of the city.

Kauju also said there are some developers, who are likely to face the wrath of the law, because they deviated from the original plans submitted to the committee.

"We are going to demolish the structures of these developers and prosecute them according to law," Kauju said.

A survey done by New Vision showed that illegal structures had been mostly erected in Kawempe, Rubaga and in the central division.