By Wetondo Denis Julius
MBALE CITY
Mbale City Authorities have assured over 20 residents that will be affected by the new road works scheduled to commence soon.
This was revealed by the Kenneth Khatuli, the Assistant Town Clerk of Mbale City yesterday during the official launch of construction of the roads.
The City Roads to be constructed are Nkonkojeru Terrace 0.8 kilometers, North Road 0.6 kilometers, Manafwa 0.5 kilometers, Market Road and Pallisa road 1.6 kilometers.
Khatuli said at least twenty residents with their properties are likely to be affected during the road constructions according to the City Engineer.
Mbale City got 20 billion shillings loan from World Bank through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program to construct 3.5 kilometer roads.
Khatuli who faulted the 20 residents said that according to urban setting, any constructed house has to be approved by Mbale City Authorities which the affected residents didn’t do. Resultantly, the twenty will not be compensated.
Ronald Musenze, the Chief Executive Director of Air Water Earth consultant says during construction, other works like security lights, parking yards and drainage systems among others will be included from the same money.
He added that construction works are soon going to commence and will take thirty months to be completed.
Musenze warned that if locals who are in the road reserves stop the road passages for not being compensated, they will definitely stop the works.
However Suzan Nambozo and Samuel Gizangi who will be affected during the construction of North Road vowed not to have their houses demolished. The duo argues that their buildings were constructed 60 years ago before Mbale City or Municipality came into existence unless they are compensated.
