Drama unfolded on Thursday this week in New Park, Kisoro Municipality after law enforcement demolished an illegal structure that was erected illegally during the recently concluded Easter holiday.
The structure, made of brick and mortar surprised many who had access to the market as it came up in only three days: Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.
It replaced a passenger shed that was meant to serve as a resting point for passengers disembarking off buses and trucks.
Since the Bus operators in Kisoro defiantly refuse to use the planned bus terminal, the shed, most times houses plastic waste and a few hoodlums playing Matatu. (Playing cards)
Kisoro RDC Hajji Shafiq Sekandi says almost overnight, a structure was erected with the purpose of raising money from rent of up to 10 lockups.
Sekandi says, following a tip off from the Anti-Corruption Unit of State House, the Inspectorate of Government, and a report from the Municipal town clerk, a move was taken to find out who is behind the illegal structure.
He says the ‘unknown people’ got wind of the plans by security and managed to evade arrest.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the masterminds of the building agreed to lease out 10 rooms as business premises at 50 Million Ugandan Shillings each.
Among the direct beneficiaries would be the contractor how this has not been independently verified.
Kisoro Municipal Town Clerk Haruna Kamba says his office was initially not aware of the construction of the illegal structure.
Kamba said his technical team is not aware of the people behind the illegal move.
He further questioned the speed and urgency with which the new structure had been erected.
“All Government projects are procedural and cannot be taken at such high speeds. This raised questions and I had to do something to stop it”, Kamba noted.
Kisoro District Police Commander (DPC) Richard Musisi said Police still has no leads on who the originators of the plan however vowed that investigations would yield results for the public.
Kisoro Municipality Mayor Ndyana Richard says he had been away during the Easter Holiday for Official Government business and also had time to attend at least one wedding.
Ndyana also denied having any first-hand information about the illegal structure from the town clerk or any other technocrat but said a local Journalist had tipped him on the matter.
A day later, His Worship Ndyana re-canted saying he had actually tried to call the deputy mayor for more information.
Local traders in Kisoro have since praised the Kisoro RDC for intervening in a matter that had left them powerless to do anything.
They criticized Municipal councilors for go silent on a serious issue adding that the silence speaks volumes in terms of being compromised.
Several people from Kisoro on various social media platforms have since called for the interdiction of the town clerk.
Hagumimana Robert, on twitter says, “We caught them Pants down, thuggery has no Place in Kisoro District Affairs. The mayor should be arrested and interrogated for fraud! If the town clerk denies the same, where were they (Mayor and Company) getting funding from?”
Hakizimana Morris, Finance Sec Kisoro District Youths Council said, “Mazimaa But I’m happy for you young people who came out to work with me to fight these thieves and we managed to win them.”
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