By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
Mbale City Council’s Public Relations Officer, James Kutosi, has addressed public concerns about unauthorized construction in the corridor linking the Mbale Taxi Park and Bus Park.
During a press briefing at City Council on Monday, 6th January, 2025, Kutosi apologized to the public for any inconvenience caused by the ongoing illegal structure.
“As the Public Relations Officer, my role is not just to defend the council when mistakes are made but to address concerns raised by the public as well am not here to defend anyone,” Kutosi stated.
“We received a request from the Chairman of Taxi Drivers regarding a conflict between the two parks. The City Council team convened and agreed that there should be a clear demarcation between the two. However, what was presented differs from what is currently on the ground.” Kutosi said.
He noted that the construction of two lockups in the corridor was not approved by the City Council. Instead, the council had agreed on a 1.5-meter divider to resolve a conflict between the two parks.
Kutosi expressed disappointment, saying, “Nobody can come from outside and build such structures without consent from one of our city Council team members. We must investigate who authorized this.”
According to Kutosi, the structures were erected during the New Year celebrations when key city authorities were out of office.
He added that the City Mayor, Town Clerk, Chairperson of the General Purpose Committee, Engineering Department, and Enforcement Unit will visit the site to assess the situation and provide recommendations.
The controversy has sparked heated discussions on social media, with many questioning how the unauthorized construction was allowed to happen.
Kutosi assured the public that the council is taking the matter seriously and will address it transparently.
