UGANDA, Mbarara | Real Muloodi News | Mbarara City council authorities and the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) are to restore the damaged green cover at Mbarara’s Independence Park.
Mbarara City is one of the former municipalities that recently attained city status in 2021.
In July 2017, under the Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Program MATIP II, the government signed a USh21 billion contract with Roko Construction Limited to redevelop Mbarara City’s central market.
When construction commenced, over 700 vendors were relocated to Independence Park to allow the construction of the new Mbarara City central market.
The decision to relocate the vendors to Independence Park displeased the ecologists, who saw it as a dangerous move for nature.
Independence Park is a popular destination for people who want to relax and are attracted by its cool and green environment.
The environmentalists argued that the Independence Park needs preservation as the main green space.
The Mbarara City four-storied central market was recently completed and handed to the city authorities. Therefore, ACODE is now pushing for the park’s restoration.
The Deputy City Mayor, Prisca Murongo Muganzi, says that now that vendors are shifting to the new market, there are plans to plant more than 1000 trees.
Dr Arthur Bainomugisha, the Executive Director of ACODE, says that the restoration is significant and will keep away people who had intentions of damaging the Independence Park.
Geoffrey Rukukyera, an environmentalist who advocates for the park restoration, said that the park was the only open space with a breath of fresh and cool air in Mbarara.
Last year, the Mbarara City Mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi declined rumours that the Mbarara City council will sell the Mbarara Independence Park after vendors relocate to the new central market.
He noted that the city authorities are now focused on beautifying the park.
As soon as the vendors’ list verification exercise is complete and any other issues affecting the opening of the new market are handled, the Independent Park will be open for ecological development.
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