The recent demolition of Kiosks in Hoima has pitted the Municipla council against some politicians in the division.
Two months ago, Hoima Municipal council resolved to demolish the kiosks, to pave way for cleanliness and proper planning.
On Tuesday last week, about 100 kiosks were razed to the ground, plunging the operators in a state of confusion.
But council members in Kahoora Division that covers the town’s central business area are unhappy and have accused the municipal council of acting in haste. Gabriel Dema, the councilor representing central ward in Kahoora division council says Kahoora Division council had tabled the same issue of kiosks and the matter was forwarded to the finance and planning committee that is discussing it.
Dema wonders why the municipal council, hurriedly demolished the kiosks without an input of Kahoora Division council where most kiosk vendors operate. The councilor warns of a legal implication as the vendors’ property was destroyed and stolen during the operation.
Abu Busobozi, the councilor Northern Ward to Kahoora Division faults the municipal council for hastily evicting the vendors without an alternative place for relocation. Busobozi demands that the municipal council finds an alternative place to relocate the vendors.
But the municipal council has stood its ground and defended the kiosk demolition exercise. In one of the radio talk shows Ronald Basiima, the deputy mayor said the exercise is legal and would continue to rid the town of all non permanent structures in town.
Basiima blamed the kiosk operators for failing to heed to the municipal council’s two month ultimatum asking them to leave. He said that if they had taken heed, there would have been no inconveniences caused by the demolition.
The aggrieved kiosk operators on Friday resolved to sue the municipal authorities for damages.
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