By Frank Kamuntu
Landlords and tenants in the swanky Bugolobi suburbs have formed an association through which they will pool ideas and resources to address a myriad of challenges facing their neighborhood.
Considered home to some of the wealthiest and most influential people in Kampala, Bugolobi has lately been grappling with problems ranging from insecurity, crippled infrastructure, poor hygiene and encroachment on the Bugolobi Swamp, an important catchment area for the neighboring catchment area for the neighboring Lake Victoria.
The swamp, location south of the suburb, is increasingly under attack, and it’s taking more than it can handle in the form of soil (back filling), plastic and human waste.
In a field tour of the place, captain Mike Mukula, the chairman of Bugolobi Landlords and Tenants Association told reporters that the swamp and lagoon are under heavy attack from fellow rich residents who take advantage of the weak laws and use corruption to advance on the wetland.
“The biggest culprits are us the people with big money, it is us the people with big money, it is people with influence. These 3are the ones who misuse the wetland. They are already back filling and building and some as you see have brought piggery into the wetland” he said.
The Bugolobi swamp, which is fed by the Nakivubo channel receives the biggest bulk of the water from the city. A recent cabinet report however, declared the swamp as “Vanquished: meaning that it had lost its ecological character to make is worse, the water body is now being used ass dumping ground for human waste from the burgeoning human settlement around it.
According to captain Mukula’s estimation, there are about 5000 people living and working around the swamps and there is one toilet. The residents are now concerned that severe floods as has recently been witnessed with the katonga River in Mpingi District, could be coming their way.
“We must ensure that we protect our environment, otherwise mother nature will respond” Mike says.
The Association will be putting together resources to take on the encroachers through legal action, but also work with government bodies such as KCCA and the ministry of lands to counter those getting title in the wetland. Each association member will contribute funds towards course.
The residents of Bugolobi are also worried about the rampant accumulation of bars, night clubs which are now hot points of thigh venders.
Bugolobi has been turned into a commercial area, it is turning into Kabalagala, all bars have shifted to her which lead to noise pollution. This has been a residential location but KCCA and other authority have.
