Anti Riot police have been deployed to stop forceful take over of Nyendo Taxi Park, located along the Masaka- Villa Road in Nyendo-Ssenyange division.
Anti Riot police was called in to quell clashes between Equator Touring Service managers and Baganda taxi operators and Transporters association, Batata Company.
Owned by Brig. Elly Kayanja, Equator touring services Limited has been managing the taxi parks in Masaka town.
But Early this year, Masaka High Court registrar, John Baptist Ssegilinya, issued a court order allowing Peter Ntege, the manager Batata, to take over the management of Nyendo Taxi Park, as a compensation for his closed roadside parks.
The roadside parking areas were closed by Masaka municipality which also agreed to compesate Ntege with 200 million shillings.
But Masaka municipality then failed to raise the 200 million shillings and instead gave Ntege a go ahead to take over Nyendo Taxi Park with effect from 1st March 2010.
Today, a group of men belonging to Batata stormed Nyendo Taxi Park this morning demanding the immediate departure of Equator staff.
Led by Sakka Lubega, the men accused Equator touring service managers, of resisting vacating the taxi park, to pave way for the new administration.
But anti riot police intervened and stopped Batata group from taking over the taxi park forcefully.
Henry Kintu the Southern Region police officer in charge of anti-riot says the take over is illegal. Three people have been arrested for the chaos that ensued.
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But Kasibante Kibabilire, the acting Masaka mayor, has accused police of conniving with Equator Touring service to fuel Masaka Park wrangles. He says Equator‘s contract expired on 22 December 2009 and is illegally occupying Nyendo Taxi Park.
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Haruna Numba, the chairman of Equator touring services, says they cannot leave Nyendo Taxi Park, because they paid a four month rent advance which expires in May.
Meanwhile, Peter Ntege whose Company has been blocked from taking over Nyendo Taxi says the war is not over yet. He says he will do whatever it takes, to claim his park.
