Entebbe Municipality Deputy Resident District Commissioner Hakim Kiriggwa expressed his satisfaction with the political unity for development. He highlighted that hunger does not discriminate between supporters of the ruling party and the opposition and that the government's development objectives are intended to improve household incomes.
A view of part of the commissioned park and Market extension.
The Mayor of Entebbe Municipality, Fabrice Rulinda, has officially commissioned the newly constructed taxi park and Kitooro Market extension. Leaders across the political divide commended the unity of purpose that ensured the smooth delivery of these development projects.
The event, which took place today at the newly constructed taxi park, saw both opposition leaders and those aligned with the government praising the long-overdue development. Those in support of the government commended the opposition leaders for “supporting development irrespective of who initiated it,” a stark contrast to the often divisive political climate in many other local governments, especially in Kampala.
“I want to extend credit to former Mayor Kayanja Vincent De Paul (my predecessor) and Mr. Namayirira (former Division B LC III chairperson) for initiating this development. It saddens me that Mayor Kayanja was not invited to this function to witness the completion of the work he started. Credit should always be given where it's due, regardless of political affiliation,” Mayor Rulinda stated. His predecessor, Kayanja, was a DP-leaning politician.
Rulinda emphasized that development is a collective effort and should not be hindered by personal or political interests. He urged the community to embrace unity in promoting progress. Attendees included local political leaders, technical staff, taxi and boda-boda operators, and Entebbe Airport taxi operators. The Mayor also called on ESCADA (Entebbe Stages, Conductors, and Drivers Association), managers of the park facility, to ensure that their staff and vehicles maintain high standards of professionalism.
The event was attended by vendors who had patiently waited for the completion of the construction. These vendors, who had been operating on the streets under the scorching sun, were allocated stalls and granted a three-month rent holiday. After the holiday, they will pay a monthly fee of UGX 150,000 to the council. Rulinda noted that the fee was carefully set to avoid being too high and burdensome for the vendors.
The project, which began in 2017, was delayed by the COVID-19 lockdown and later by a shortage of funds, resulting in a completion delay of over six months. Entebbe Municipality Deputy Resident District Commissioner Hakim Kiriggwa expressed his satisfaction with the political unity for development. He highlighted that hunger does not discriminate between supporters of the ruling party and the opposition and that the government's development objectives are intended to improve household incomes.
Kiriggwa also urged taxi operators to ensure their vehicles are in good mechanical condition and that their staff maintain professionalism. "The era of conductors with unkempt armpits is over," he said. He further advised voters to elect candidates who can understand the language of local government technical staff, rather than those who may be easily manipulated by elite civil servants.
On a lighter note, Kiriggwa jokingly suggested that Entebbe Division B LC III Chairperson Richard Ssekyondwa, a DP-leaning politician, should be considered for the ruling NRM flag due to his cooperative spirit. He commended President Yoweri Museveni for his contributions to the development of Entebbe, affirming that "Museveni remains our captain in the NRM."
Entebbe Municipality Town Clerk Emmanuel Mugisha Gacharo also commended all leaders involved in the project, including President Museveni for the government's contribution. Contrary to claims by Chairman Ssekyondwa that the project was funded by the World Bank under USMID, Gacharo clarified that the Ugandan government had also made significant contributions.
Gacharo urged lock-up owners and taxi park managers to take responsibility for the maintenance of the facility. “Please ensure you pay your monthly rental fees because that revenue will be used to finance security, lighting, cleaning, and water services. The council also depends on these funds for upkeep,” he said. He also explained that each lock-up owner would have a personal electricity meter, while water would be a shared facility.
Ssekyondwa, in his speech, also called for the proper maintenance of the new facility. He encouraged taxi operators to prioritize good customer care, smartness, and cleanliness, especially avoiding bugs in vehicle cushions. He praised the unity of the leaders that helped bring the project to fruition.
On a different note, Ssekyondwa raised concerns about the emerging issue of street children. He stated that these children would be rounded up, and any parents found to be neglecting them would face prosecution. “You don’t just produce children for the world; take responsibility,” he said.
Other attendees included Entebbe Municipality parliamentary aspirant Jovia Tugume and Division Police Commander Steven Twinomgisha.