By Solomon Hamala
IGANGA
The decision by Iganga Municipal Council to commercialize collection of garbage has sparked off mixed reactions amongst members of the public and leaders.
While some believe this could be the solution to rid Iganga Municipality of the huge heaps of uncollected garbage that has dogged the area for the past few years, many are accusing leaders of failing to solve the problem.
The LC 3 chairman Northern division, Muhammad Kataba said previously garbage collection trucks belonging to Iganga municipal council could not access some areas or broke down on most occasions because they are too old.
“These trucks were handed over to us when Iganga municipality was still a town council and now they are worn out,” he said.
Kataba urged members of the public to cooperate with Alliance Water Solution, a company that collects garbage by paying a small fee in order to rid the area of dirt.
“Even before these people came, there were boys who were moving around collecting garbage from the residents at a small fee,” he said.
Ambrose Muzaale, a trader along Saza Road in Iganga municipality however accused authorities of failing to seek views from stakeholders before hiring Alliance Water Solutions to carry out garbage collection.
Muzaale said introduction of the company will not be a solution since most of the garbage is dumped in the middle of major roads during night time by some traders and members of the public.
“Now who will be responsible for collecting money from the people to pay Alliance Water Solutions to do the work,” he asked.
Samantha Kagoya, a newspaper vendor along the main high way in Iganga municipality said authorities would have sought a solution of raising funds to purchase another garbage collection truck instead of introducing a commercial firm.
Kagoya said majority of residents are low income earners who cannot afford parting with a fee to collect garbage from their premises.
“Many of the people survive on a single meal a day and telling them to pay some money for garbage is a waste of time,” she said.
A councilor at Iganga municipality who spoke on condition of anonymity said the firm was even approved without the consent of council.
“We were shocked to see trucks moving around collecting garbage without getting our blessing from the council,’ he said.
The Mayor Iganga Municipality, Bamu Lulenzi said the firm works alongside trucks belonging to Iganga municipality to collect garbage from the area.
Lulenzi said Alliance Water Solutions trucks move to residential areas where Iganga municipal council trucks cannot access in order to collect garbage at a small fee ranging between 500 and 2000 depending on the volume.
He said the council is to soon convene a meeting to approve the award of the tender to Alliance Water Solutions to conduct business.
