Chris Ocowun
1 July 2008
Kampala — GULU district chairman Norbert Mao has instructed the municipal council to identify illegal structures for demolition. "When building, make provision for public utilities. There are many illegal buildings in Gulu town, some of them hotels, which might not survive."
In order to reduce tension during the crackdown, the council should give a notice to the owners of the structures, Mao advised. Addressing residents on Sunday, Mao noted that many people had taken advantage of the insurgency to build houses without approval.
Mao's warning came after the council razed the servants' quarters of Jackson Olanya, a resident of Kasubi parish in Bardege Division, which he had built on the road reserve.
As a result of the standoff, road works being undertaken in the division by the local government came to a stand-still.
Olanya's family asked for time to relocate the building. But Mao insisted that the law must be followed without discrimination. He warned the municipal council against corruption as they enforce the law.
"There are cases of corruption. I have received many complaints about municipal authorities knocking down houses of the poor and leaving those of the rich when opening up urban roads."
Mayor Christopher Acire blamed the district land board for giving out titles to individuals without consulting them.
He vowed to demolish all illegal buildings.
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