Tension is high in Masaka municipality following the take over by the bus park land by a businessman to pave way for the construction of a shopping mall. The disputed bus park that has been under the management of Gaso Transporters, is located along Grant Street near the bank of Uganda Currency Center in Masaka.
Recently, George William Kalumba, the Managing Director Bakalumba Enterprises evicted the bus operators from the 0.4 hecratare piece of land claiming that he had bought it. Kalumba presented a title he allegedly acquired from Masaka district land board and ordered the bus operators and vendors to vacate the area.
He also claimed to have secured permission from the land ministry to change the user certificate because Gaso Transporters has failed to develop the land. Kalumba explains that he intends to construct a modern shopping mall on the land.
// Cue in: “ I intend to put up an arcade…….”
Cue out: “…..they have no answer.”//
The eviction has forced bus operators and traders to relocate to the streets. Both Link and Gaso buses are now operating at Total Highway in Nyendo, Shell Buddu area and Gapco near revenue offices. Falidi Kamulu, the Manager Gaso Transporters which has been managing the bus park has declined to comment on the eviction.
But Godfrey Kayemba, the Mayor Masaka Municipality says the allocation and takeover of the bus park is illegal. Kayemba claims that the municipality secured a 99 year lease for the disputed land in 1970 which is still running. He says after securing the lease Masaka Municipality authorized the defunct Uganda Transport Company to operate the park on its behalf.
Paddy Ssegilinya, the Mutiba-Musisi LC1 Chairperson where the bus park is located says over 20 traders evicted from the park are stranded. He says some of the affected people include food vendors, hawkers and sugarcane dealers among others. Ssegilinya says that they are planning to sue the businessman for evicting them without consulting them.
He also faults the proposed construction of an arcade on the disputed land claiming that it is part of the green belt in the municipality. But a March 5, 2012 letter signed by Dr. Yafesi Okia, the Commissioner in Charge of Survey and Mapping in the Lands Ministry shows that William Kalumba acquired the bus park land legally and is free to carry out any developments on the land.
This is the second takeover of a public facility in the municipality within a space of two months. Last month, Musa Kavuma, the manager of Eagles Production Band reclaimed Masaka Lorry Park. Kavuma claimed that the land belonged to his late father saying that he secured a title from the district land board to redevelop the land. However, Masaka municipality reclaimed the land saying it was illegally allocated to Kavuma and handed over to lorry drivers to resume their operations.
