Mengo evicts Kalungu district over sh364m debt
Feb 12, 2019
The eviction notice has caused panic among the district authorities who claim that they were given limited time to vacate.
Kalungu District Local Government has until the end of February to vacate the Buganda Kingdom buildings. And once the 30-day ultimatum expires, the institution will apply forceful means.
This is due to failure to pay nominal ground rent of four years totalling to sh364, 800,000. The district is meant to pay sh7, 600,000 every month.
The eviction notice has caused panic among the district authorities who claim that they were given limited time to vacate. They are currently trying to bargain for more days as they look for another place.
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According to Richard Kyabaggu, the Kalungi Local Council (LC5) chairperson, they received the eviction letter at the close of January and they are expected to vacate the premises by February.
He explained that they lack funds to pay nominal rent yet plans to build their headquarters stalled due to financial challenges.
Sh2.8b was planned for the district headquarters at Kaasa-Bbaale village. In 2017, the central government promised to contribute sh500m which has not been fulfilled.
As a result, the district council resolved to solicit funds to embark on the building process.
Among the ways was to force all district staff mainly teachers to commit a tenth of their salaries towards the construction.
Meanwhle Denis Bagaya, the Buganda Land Board public relations Officer, did not respond to our requests for a comment about the eviction notice.
But a Kingdom official, who preferred anonymity, advised the district authorities to erect tents in the meantime as they solicit for funds to build their headquarters.
He said the district authorities have always promised to pay the rental arrears but failed to fulfil their promise.
The official noted that an eviction notice was issued last year but they refused to leave.
Teachers react
On Sunday, headteachers protested the resolution to commit part of their salaries towards the construction saying that enforcing it would be a violation of their rights.
Led by Henry Lukyamuzi, they appealed to the central government to implement the sh500m pledge towards the construction process to avoid cutting their meagre salaries.
John Ssali, the chairperson-Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), said the teachers' salaries are still very low and cutting their salaries may lead the district into more legal problems.
"The resolution comes at the time when the teachers are still pushing for salary increment. It may be too difficult to convince them to contribute to the building process," he noted.
He appealed to them to desist from cutting teachers' salaries and instead lobby funds through other avenues.
Prossy Nalubwama (Kyambala Primary School), said it is important to build a district headquarter since it leads to development. However, she disputed the idea of 10% cut off their salaries.
George William Matovu, (Lina Infant School), said the council's resolution must be revisited and properly communicated to the teachers.
Augustine Kateera (Kapere Primary School in Lukaya), said teachers are willing to contribute towards the district's development projects but not through forceful directives especially where they have a right of decision.
Siraje Ssegujja (Fatihi Primary School) explained that the 10% off the teachers' salaries is too little but their concern is about the procedure.
Margaret Nakyazze, another teacher, said headteachers need a meeting to discuss with the teachers about the proposed idea. She added that such forced decisions may hurt teachers' morale.