MICHAEL N
Evicted garage owners, mechanics, and welders in Ntungamo Municipality have appealed to authorities to extend essential services to their new area of operation following their relocation under the recently implemented Trade Order.
The concerns were raised during a meeting held today at Red Cross Hall at the municipal offices, organized by the affected garage owners, mechanics, and welders. The meeting aimed at gathering views on how best they can continue operating their businesses, one month after the enforcement of the Trade Order.
Julius Niwamanya and Wilberforce Mwesigwa, both mechanics, expressed dissatisfaction with municipal authorities, accusing them of neglecting some mechanics and welders who remain stranded along the main street. They noted that some operators have since returned to their former workstations, with little or no enforcement action taken by authorities.
Julius further revealed that many mechanics have lost business in the new location, citing customer concerns over insecurity. He explained that many clients now prefer taking their vehicles to garages in other towns.
Ezra Manzi, a garage owner, said they are facing multiple challenges in the new area, including lack of electricity, water, and latrines. He warned that the absence of sanitation facilities poses a serious health risk, with the possibility of disease outbreaks among the hundreds operating in the area.
Edison Taremwa, another mechanic, added that the area becomes flooded whenever it rains, making transport difficult since it is located in a swampy place.
The LC1 Chairperson for Cell 3 in Eastern Division, Christopher Kabira Musinguzi, noted that the municipality is losing significant revenue as many garage operators and workers have relocated to other towns. He called for unity and cooperation among the affected groups and urged security agencies to safeguard their businesses, especially at night.
Henry Tumwebaze, Chairperson of Small Scale Industries in Ntungamo Municipality, said the challenges require urgent attention from municipal authorities. He called for the construction of a modern public latrine to address poor waste disposal, as well as the extension of electricity to support businesses such as welding.
He appealed to authorities to act swiftly so that normal business operations can resume.
Despite the implementation of the Trade Order in Ntungamo Municipality, hundreds of businesses remain inactive, while others have closed due to lack of suitable operating space. Some traders have relocated to smaller towns and rural areas due to high operational costs such as rent, contributing to rising unemployment among small-scale traders including banana vendors, roasted meat sellers, chapati vendors, and shoe repairers.
