New Kumbu residents pay for security patrols
Some of the apartments in New Kumbu. The good security in the area has attracted people from different parts of the country. Photo by Wilson Kutamba
New Kumbu, a suburb in Masaka Town, is located along Kyotera - Mutukula Road. The suburb is mostly residential.
In New Kumba, residents contribute a fee to improve the security in the area.
Kenneth Kibule, a businessman in the area, explains that they resolved to pay Shs20,000 per household in a bid to tighten security in the area.
The monthly payment he says: “Is to ensure that we are safe. It is costly but the peace we get is worth it because we hardly have cases of theft and robbery,” he says.
He adds that this amount is given to John Bosco Muryowa, a veteran army officer who offered to police the area.
Kibule says this has seen many people, including high profile figures, in Masaka seek ‘asylum’ in Kumbu.
Vicente Ntabiye, a resident and one of prominent landlords in the area says: “Mulyowa keeps arresting thieves, unknown individuals in the area, which has saved us from intruders”
Sam Musoke , the area chairperson shared that as the a leader, he is proud of how his area is organised and secure compared to adjacent areas, which are always battling with insecurity.
“New Kumbu is a very safe area and because residents are always keen to know new faces in the area, all residents report their visitors and maids in my office to avoid arrests because it’s our norm to arrest strangers for interrogation in the area to avoid criminals,” Musoke says.
According to Muryowa, they decided to police the area because of the high crime rate that had plagued them.
He adds that sine 2007 when Masaka Resident District Commission permitted him and his team to have a gun and patrol the area, they have managed cut down on the crime rate. He says New Kumbu has been peaceful for 11 years and attracted new residents.
Development
The areas as Vicenti Ntambiye, a senior resident, recalls, grew into residential hub due to its warm hospitality and tranquility which welcomes residents and makes them comfortably live and stay for a good period of time.
The area harbours Kampala University Masaka campus which increased need for more rental houses and hostels for students, hence house renting become a profitable enterprise in the area.
Business
The presence of a university in New Kumba has led to growth of stationery businesses, restaurants and rentals in the area.
Simon Lubyayi, who owns a stationery business, is among the many who taps money from the university students.
Lubyayi says: “Printing business is so busy and operational most especially during in-service programmes which has over 900 students who bring stationery work”
Racheal Nalutaya, who owns an eatery, says her restaurant is always busy because of the student community.
“Our business is booming because of university students and all small business in the area rarely lack customers and this has greatly improved incomes and cost of living,” Racheal Nalutaya shares.
Health
The area has two private clinics. Referals are sent to Masaka regional referral hospital.
Water
The suburb depends on piped water distributed by National water and Sewerage Corporation.
In case of shortage residents get water from Namajjuzi swamp at the extreme end of the suburb.
Education
New Kumbu has only one primary school and no secondary school. However, it is close to prominent schools in Masaka where children of high profiled residents go to.
Accommodation.
The area has two hotels. The charges vary but the better of the two charges Shs100,000 a night. Guest houses charge Shs80,000.
Cost of land
A 50X100 ft plot of land costs between Shs40 and Shs50m.
New Kumbu has mostly apartments. They range between Shs200m and Shs500m.
Rent
A single self-contaminated room goes for Shs400, 000 per month. A single non self-contained room is about Shs250,000 per moth. A double self-contained house costs Shs600,000 while a double non self-contained is Shs500,000.
Commercial double rooms are Shs700,000 while a single one is Shs600,000.
renting an apartmentcosts between Shs2.5m and Shs3m.
The high cost of property is due to the presence of Kampala University, which has increased population and cost of living in the area.
However, many people rush to live in New Kumbu because of the good security in the area. For instance, people come from as far as Mbarara to settle here.
Besides this, the suburb is well planned with good apartments which increase the cost as well. The area houses many high profile people in Masaka District.
Challenges faced in the area
Littering of Garbage due to increased number of people in the area is a serious threat towards sanitation and hygiene of the area.
Bosco Muryowa, an army officer responsible for New Kumbu’s security, says the area lacks security lights which give thugs a chance to hide in dark corners and this threatens both business and people’s life in the area.
“We offer our best to safeguard the area but darkeness in Nabajjuzi swamp challenges us. Some dark corners harbour criminals during night due to lack of security lights in the area,” Muryowa says.
