Teso Bar is the most populated Lira suburb
Teso Bar is a very busy surburb in Lira Town. PHOTO BY ISAAC NEWTON ABILI
What you need to know:
- The area has a police post at Starch Factory village. LC1 defence secretary Yoventino Omara says besides police post, the LC1 convenes a bi-monthly security meetings. “We know all our residents, in case we get any new face walking at night, we question the person or sometimes we hand them to police,” Omara says.
About 1.5 kilometres from the heart of Lira Town, is Teso Bar, the most populated suburb in Lira Town. This busy suburb dotted with pubs and pork joints is located in Adyel Division, Lira Municipality, with a population of more than 4,500 people.
It was baptised Teso Bar in the 1960s, when Iteso ladies from Teso sub-region started making local brew ,commonly known as ajono, in the area. To date, ajono is still prepared by Iteso living here. Musa Odongo Ayoo, a resident, says before 2000, Teso Bar was very remote with only a few structures.
Land
The LC1 chairman of Abowia Cell, Bernard Odur, says the area is developing at a fast rate. “It’s very expensive to buy land here due to the fast growing population in the area, but alternatively one can buy already built apartments,” he says.
Odur says a plot measuring 15x30ft in the nearby area goes for Shs30m. An apartment costs between Shs100m to Shs300m.
Martin Obaa, a resident, says in 2,000, he bought a huge chunk of land at Teso Bar at Shs150, 000.
Rent
A single room costs a minimum of Shs60, 000 a month while a double room costs between Shs120, 000 to Shs200, 000.
Business
The booming businesses include retail, wholesale. Odur says most people in his area are educated but jobs are not enough for all of them. “Many have joined the business of boda boda, restaurants, lodges, and saloon, among others.
Roads
The murram road from Lira Town to Teso Bar is horrible. Almost the entire road network is eaten up by potholes. However, the roads within Teso Bar itself are currently being repaired by Adyel Division leadership.
Services
According to the area LC1 youth councillor, Patrick Innocent Okala, Teso Bar has many private primary schools with only one secondary school. Public schools are in the neighbouring villages.
Residents also have piped water and electricity, he says.
Health
On health, Okala says Teso Bar has many private clinics, including Gift Life, which serves almost the entire Lango sub-region and beyond. Residents also make use of the nearby Lira hospital.
Challenges
LC1 chairman Bernard Odur, says the main challenge in Teso Bar is youth unemployment. As a result, the chairman says many jobless youth resort to robbery.
Security
The area has a police post at Starch Factory village. LC1 defence secretary Yoventino Omara says besides police post, the LC1 convenes a bi-monthly security meetings. “We know all our residents, in case we get any new face walking at night, we question the person or sometimes we hand them to police,” Omara says.
