The allocation of thirteen newly-commissioned lockups in Fort
Portal Municipality has sparked a controversy between the Mayor Rev Willy Kintu
Muhanga and a section of councillors.
Located in Kisenyi Cell, South Division Fort Portal, the lockups were part of
the 13 billion shillings project that was funded under the Uganda Support to
Municipal Infrastructure Development – USMID.
The other infrastructural developments that were under the USMID project include the
solar-powered street lights, Nyakana Road, the Mugunu Lorry Park and Rukidi III
road.
However, some councillors have now petitioned Muhanga to explain the status of
the lockups.
Despite the lockups not being occupied, the councillors claim they
have been allocated to some relatives and close friends of the municipal executive
members.
Kenneth Kaliba, the Male Youth Councillor, says they will not allow anyone to
occupy the lockups until the right procedure of allocation and setting the rent
fees is followed.
//Cue in: “So, banu abantu…
Cue out… ekozereki, ekaba egwire.”//
But even though Muhanga admits that the lockups have already been rented
to some individuals, he refutes allegations that he influenced the process.
He declined to disclose who they were allocated to and at what cost.
Muhanga instead says that a right procedure was followed to pick the suitable
tenants though he does not explain how the process was conducted and why they
didn’t advertise.
