By Mulengera Reporters
Last Thursday, the Deputy IGG Ann Muhairwe held a meeting at Kira Municipality headquarters. The meeting was in response to a petition the Inspectorate had received by some aggrieved vendors protesting alleged exclusion from the preparatory processes leading to the World Bank-funded demolition, reconstruction, expansion and modernization of Kireka main market.
Currently very dilapidated, this market is one of the oldest and dirtiest and most neglected in Uganda, having been in existence since the 1970s. It sits on the land (0.43 acres) which was donated by the Kisosonkole family, comprising of Kabaka Mutebi’s maternal uncles and aunties.
The World Bank has provided Shs14bn under the Shs1trn worth Greater Kampala Metropolitan Infrastructure plan and the aim is to have the current dilapidated structure of the market vacated, demolished and replaced with a modern market of 8 stories, back to which all the current vendors will be readmitted.
Muhairwe convened a meeting of all stakeholders which ended in amicable resolution of the misunderstandings, which the IGG reciprocated by writing to the World Bank clearing the project to go on. The whistle blowers had wanted the project halted first until the government is blackmailed to buy out surrounding landlords so as to enlarge on the acreage for the market. Muhairwe thanked the vendors, Kira leaders and Kisosonkole family (the lessors) for humbling themselves while giving concessions which resulted into a win-win deal being hammered out.
In her closing remarks, the Deputy IGG rebuked the Kira Municipality Clerk Benon Yiga. She accused him of presiding over the headquarters which employs enforcement officers who are unfit to hold such positions. She castigated him for employing employing enforcement officers who are brutal and are always torturing IG process servers who frequently come around to deliver correspondences or follow up on stuff, which could be earlier deliveries.
Renowned for taking no prisoners, Muhairwe demanded to know why process servers from the IG get mistreated and beaten up each time they are sent and try to access Kira Municipality offices. She accused the men and women deployed to man security at the gate/main entrance of acting brutally.
She said the beating of IG process servers trying to access Kira Municipality offices has thrice happened with their process servers getting beaten and chased away. She told the Clerk Mr. Benon Yiga “this must stop or else your people are going to get arrested and yourself too won’t be spared.” She explained the provisions of the Constitution and other laws under which the authority and mandate of the Inspectorate is derived. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
