Derrick A
The Rukungiri municipality councilors have raised concerns about car street parking in Rukungiri town, alleging that the contracted company often extends its working hours beyond the agreed-upon time.
They argue that street parking fees should only be collected between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, yet they frequently observe individuals displaying parking receipts beyond this time frame. This issue has prompted the councilors to bring it to the attention of the municipal council.
Municipal speaker Constance Tumusime expressed frustration over contractor workers who affix parking receipts to vehicles and then disappear, resulting in some individuals evading payment and accruing excessive fines. She emphasized the necessity of renegotiating the terms and conditions with the contractor to address these challenges, particularly for newcomers in town who frequently find their vehicles clamped due to non-payment.
Hon. Kenneth Mushabe from the Rwentondo Ward shared an incident where an elderly man complained after his car was clamped, but there was no one available to receive payment. This highlights the urgency of resolving the issues surrounding street parking enforcement.
Deputy town clerk Mr. Prosper Tagorya outlined the current street parking policy, stating that vehicles are charged Shs300 per hour, with fines imposed on those who default on payment. He suggested that paying for a month in advance could help mitigate such challenges. He also noted that certain establishments like banks and supermarkets, such as Senna, cover street parking for their customers, exempting parked vehicles from payment.
Mr. Augustine Kananura, responsible for street parking in Rukungiri, clarified that according to his contract guidelines, the collection should occur from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, contrary to the councilors’ understanding of the agreed-upon hours. He advised those experiencing issues with workers placing receipts on their vehicles to reach out to their office for assistance.
