By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
Mbale city has received 460 million Ugandan shillings from the central government to fix all non-functioning street lights.
The city is set to start the exercise this week and completing it in a month’s time.
The solar street lights along Mugisu Hill Lane Road, Nabuyonga Rise Road, and Republic Street, installed five years ago under the Municipal Infrastructure Development Financing (USIMD) project, are currently not functioning.
This has led to increased insecurity in the city, drawing public criticism.
Mbale City Mayor, Cassim Namugali, says the funds have been secured as a loan from the government under the USIMD project.
Mbale City Deputy Town Clerk, Jolly Hasoho, confirmed that 460 million shillings is already at the city account and will be used to repair the street lights to reduce insecurity and enable businesses to operate 24 hours.
Businessmen Samuel Mudebo and Masitula Namataka welcomed the development, saying it’s part of Mbale city’s transformation.
They noted that traders have been closing early due to insecurity caused by non-functioning street lights, particularly on Republic Street.
