Masindi leaders reject private garbage collector

By Our Reporter

Masindi: A section of leaders in Masindi Municipality are rejecting the services of James Ventures (U) Limited, who is reported to have been contracted by the Masindi Municipality authorities to collect garbage and clean the town.

The leaders are questioning the exorbitant charges the private garbage collector levied on the local people, along with the taxes business operators pay both to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the municipality.

They are also concerned about the procedures the municipal authorities followed to give James Ventures (U) Limited the contract without council approval.

In an exclusive interview with this publication, On Tuesday evening, the Member of Parliament representing Masindi Municipality, Joab Businge, challenged the municipal authorities to always follow laws when awarding such contracts to interested individuals or companies.

He also challenged the municipal mayor, Ronald Businge Kyomuhendo, to join other leaders in the municipality to fight exorbitant charges levied on the local people and the business community.

The politician advised the local people not to pay a private garbage collector until the municipal authorities follow the law when awarding contracts to any bidder.

The LC3 Chairperson for Central Division, Isaac Bongomin, asked the municipal leaders to explain to the community if the resolution they passed to hire a bidder to collect rubbish was based on the law.

‘’The municipal authorities should explain to the community if the resolution they passed to hire a bidder to collect rubbish was based on the law,’’ he questioned.

Aggrey Rwahwire, the former Mayor Masindi Municipal Aspirant, accused the town clerk, the speaker, and the mayor of being behind this saga. He also advised the local people not to pay the fees until municipality leaders followed the law.

Recently, the Masindi district LCV chairperson, Cosmas Byaruhanga, was also heard during the burial of the late Asiimwe David in Katama cell, saying the district will engage the municipal leaders over the exorbitant charges against the local people, adding that as the district, they will not look on.

Last month, the speaker of Masindi Municipal Council, Opio Tadeo, suspended four councilors who protested the same charge.

What business operators say

A section of business operators in Masindi town are also demanding the revision of the garbage collection fee.

Pascal Kataliwa, a business operator dealing in cosmetics, says that though the private garbage collector has maintained the cleanliness of the town, they are charging exorbitant money, which is unfair.

He therefore asked leaders to consider involving the private garbage collector to revise their charges.

Patrick Tumusiime, commonly known as Patrick traders, who has a boutique in Masindi town, expressed his dissatisfaction with the new policy of garbage collection, citing exorbitant charges.

According to Tumusiime, the private contractor should charge the business operators according to the quantity of garbage.

James Munaku, another business operator, said they were content with the municipal cleaners since they were cheap compared to the private garbage collector.

According to the business operators, the private garbage collector is charging them an amount ranging from 10,000 shillings to 15,000 shillings per month, compared to the municipal cleaners, who were charging them between 500 shillings and 1000 shillings per collection.

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