KCCA closes buildings over poor condition
Uganda House was one of the buildings closed yesterday by KCCA. PHOTO BY DOMINIC BUKENYA
KAMPALA- Traders and tenants on three commercial buildings in central Kampala were yesterday left stranded after Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) closed them, citing poor conditions.
According to KCCA, the owners of the affected buildings did not heed a directive to rehabilitate them ahead of the Papal visit in November.
Uganda House on Kampala Road, which houses the headquarters of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC), several offices and 30 shops, was among the buildings shut down yesterday.
Two other prominent buildings: Impala House on Kimathi Avenue and Adam House on Portal Avenue, were also closed.
Recently, KCCA informed the owners of buildings which are in bad condition to renovate them.
KCCA officials said they closed down the buildings in accordance with Section 54, 55, 58, 59, and 61 of the Public Health Act, Cap281. The provision mandates the Authority to ensure a healthly and environmentally friendly city.
“You are hereby requested to address the areas listed below to effect removal of the public nuisance identified at your premises,” reads the June 23 notice to Uganda House management.
“Owners of the buildings will improve the paving around them, paint and institute repairs on electrical wiring, fix rusted external roofs, fix broken window panes, plug drainage pipes and gutters,” it added.
He said they paid their rent on time and cannot understand the reason why they are subjected to such inconvenience.
KCCA deputy spokesperson Robert Kalumba confirmed the closure of the buildings, saying their owners did not comply with the notices demanding they institute repairs.
“We wrote to them because, as building owners, it’s their responsibility to keep their buildings up to date. When KCCA notices a problem and lets you know, we expect you to respond immediately,” Mr Kalumba said.
He added that Uganda House got the notice to repair electric cables and drainage system on June 23, but to date, they have not responded.
“This exercise has started and I urge all those who got the notice to put in place what is required and if they do not, we are ready to close their buildings,” Mr Kalumba said.
Efforts to get comments from the management of the closed buildings were futile by press time as they were not taking phone calls.
