UGANDA, Arua City | Real Muloodi News | According to Daily Monitor, poor urban planning in Arua City is hindering the opening and tarmacking of roads.
The Ugandan government, the World Bank, and the Uganda Support to Municipality Infrastructure Development Project are funding several projects in Arua City that are obstructed by illegal construction sites.
Arua is one of Uganda’s fastest-growing cities with increasing business opportunities and a growing population. The rapid growth of Arua City has made urban planning even more difficult.
The Daily Monitor reported that city authorities have forced some business owners to tear down constructed structures to give new road works way. In other cases, city authorities have constructed narrow roads to avoid demands for huge compensations from business proprietors who erected structures in road reserves.
The Daily Monitor interviewed the current city physical planner, Mr. Moses Findru, who explained that some of these structures are purposely constructed on road reserves as part of a scheme to benefit from government compensation. The practice has forced the city to narrow the roads.
“The roads have been reduced to 15.5 meters from the recommended 18 to 20 metres,” Mr. Findru complained.
He further clarified to The Daily Monitor that wider roads would be more beneficial for the population. Still, because of compensation constraints and lack of funds to review the physical planning of the city, they have no options.
Landowners in Arua City are opposing Mr. Findru’s claims. Last year, when the tarmacking of School and Adroa roads began, the residents sued the city council for destroying their houses without compensation. The court in Arua lifted the injunction and tarmacking continued. The exceptional case is still pending. The Daily Monitor reported that the resistance from residents is apparent.
The owner of a building on Awindiri Crescent said, “I even have supporting documents showing that the council authorities approved my building plans over ten years ago when I acquired the land. They did not tell me that my building would be on the road. So I will not allow my house to be brought down.”
Besides that, the city clerk, Mr. Christopher Kaweesi, told Daily Monitor that to avoid further delays and obstructions, the city must engage the communities near the road.
Poor urban planning is a massive issue in Arua City. The previous councils are accused of authorising illegal constructions, which are now clogging the city’s progress. Moving forward, the city council needs to settle these compensation issues to avoid any funding cancellations.
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