Kaboha
Residents of Rwengoma I Cell and other affected areas in Fort Portal City’s Central Division are counting losses following the ongoing government road expansion project.
Several residents say they suffered property damage after demolition of structures built within the road reserve. They claim that although their buildings had been marked with an “X,” they were not given clear information on when the demolitions would be carried out, leaving them with little time to remove their belongings.
One of the affected residents, Aliganyira Semeere, says she lost household property when her house was demolished before she had fully vacated. While supporting government efforts to improve infrastructure, she appealed to authorities to provide adequate notice and treat affected residents with dignity throughout the exercise.
Improving Infrastructure
Responding to the concerns, Fort Portal City Mayor Rev. Kintu Willy Muhanga said the road expansion is part of a nationwide government programme aimed at improving urban infrastructure and must be implemented in line with the law. He urged residents to respect official notices, seek guidance from city authorities where necessary, and ensure they have approved building plans and valid land ownership documents to avoid future disputes.
The Mayor also announced that the City’s Physical Planning and Engineering departments will hold regular coordination meetings to improve service delivery and implementation of development projects. He, however, emphasized that officials overseeing the exercise should handle affected residents with compassion, fairness, and respect.
The road expansion project is expected to improve Fort Portal City’s road network, ease traffic congestion, enhance movement of people and goods, remove structures encroaching on road reserves, and support the city’s vision of becoming a clean, smart, and well-planned urban centre.