Kampala — Stanet House in Rubaga might seem like a good-for-nothing in many by-passers' eyes. This stately mansion with a fancy architectural roof and balconies also has beautiful interiors, a cobbled compound and a wrought iron fence with overhanging gardens.
But Stanet is largely unused today. Little remains to show that this was once one of the most famous watering holes in the city, drawing in hundreds of revellers every night. But the neighbours complained that Stanet was depriving them of sleep until the business was closed.
Stanet is one of the many Kampala properties that have been abandoned after residents in the areas complain of noise. Garages, furniture stores, metal workshops and even personal TVs, hi-fi radios being tuned at high volume have all been known to cause residential quarrels.
Another property in Bukoto, which has been serving as a born-again church, was recently given notice to relocate from the suburb. Recently, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Police penalised nightspots for making too much noise in residential areas. Each paid a fine of sh200,000. It is not only the pubs and nightclubs that are being abandoned, homes too are being abandoned.
Apollo Mwanja, an erstwhile resident on Tank Hill Rise in Muyenga, says he had to sell off his house because he had not had any comfortable sleep for two years since a bar was erected in the neighbourhood. Today, Mwanja has moved to quieter Lubowa.
Jacaranda, a sh1b worth property with a swimming pool, a bar, gardens, lodge and gym in Rubaga is also under 'attack' from neighbours for noise pollution.
"In the beginning, it was just a swimming pool. Decent people came in on Sunday afternoons and would leave by nightfall. But as time went on, the place turned out to be an open air discothèque. Even Sundays are not spared. People dance and shout until the wee hours of the morning," says a neighbour.
The Jacaranda proprietor, one Kasozi, says: "This city is developing at a rapid speed and there is no more space for dead-silent residential areas. It is illogical to close every new property just because of noise. But if we can reach a compromise, we can agree to work on set terms and co-exist."
An agreement with his neighbours has seen him restricted to play the music till 11:00pm. Now the new battle is whether the establishment should be open at all on Sundays.
Kasozi says Sunday is when people need to relax at the poolside, so come rain or shine, the complex will be open and play music. The neighbours insist they need to rest on Sundays. Only God knows where this will end.
"Creating too much noise is an offence in Uganda under the 2003 Noise Standards And Control Regulations. If neighbours feel that the laughing, clapping, shouting, music, fireworks or background noise from a property is disturbing their peace, they can file a complaint with the local councils, who ultimately file it with Kampala City Council (KCC). NEMA measures the noise and if it is beyond the limits, they will issue an improvement notice. Failure to comply with the notice might lead to closure," says Herbert Ssemakula, the deputy spokesman for KCC.
NEMA guidelines spell out that the noise from a commercial bar or club should not be heard from the next residence. Anything reading above 40 decibels in a residential area is illegal.
But the noise pollution wrangles are only bound to get worse as several homes in the suburbs are being turned into nightclubs.
There seems to be an end in sight to the quarrels though as the Noise Standards and Control Regulations (2003) advises that there are licences available for property owners whose establishment are likely to emit noise in excess of the permissible levels.
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Cave Tervan (Tavern), the noise polluter of Bugujju in Mukono This is a recent bar opened in the vicinity in the middle of 2008. This was rather a place of quiet sleep at night and has become noisy in the short run. A consensus should be reached in order to regulate noise in the environment. Noise by laws and ordinances exist in Uganda today but there is a need for a real law against noise pollution Students of Uganda Christian University should think twice before making Bugujju their residence, they risk having their faiths ‘massacred’ in the numerous bars. The customers of cave Tervan are mainly the young of tender age and ‘Christian’ university students that booze off till morning. This situation has created a security threat, it is no longer safe to go out in the night, and thugs could take advantage of noise levels to steal. More evils cannot be ruled out. This bar is a negative image in the surroundings due to the emission of unbearable sound. This is not out of any misunderstandings with the owner of the bar whom I do not even know personally. According to sources he is known by the name Mugisha, whose telephone number is 0702343434, is said to be a ‘musomesa’ or teacher or a lawyer of Uganda Christian University and out of the country. This is written to draw concern about the well being of the residents. Despite the known effects of loud music like deafness and the disruption of physical and psychological health, many residents are annoyed, sleepless, highly stressed, some fear memory loss and forgetfulness. Loud music was being played during the night hours from 11 pm. up to 7 am. without any reasonable excuse to the chagrin of many residents. I would like to call on any person concerned to serve them a notice, a penalty or alternatively confiscate their noisy equipment. With this loud machine-created sound, they should at least sound proof the bar, I wish the owners themselves who sleep in a very quiet environment would take a piece of their bread. The many high authorities and police that have been notified are yet to act to resolve these matters, I wish they would give this high priority. Though exceptions may be made for activities considered legitimate or necessary like wedding ceremonies where loud music can be tolerated, I surely believe they should be held between 6-11pm on the same day. This is better if the building is sound proofed or otherwise it may be come a habit of disguise.
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) should come to the rescue of the residents and advise the bar managers on the reasonable sound limit.
One horrible night, I decided that was the last straw and walked to the bar that night at 2:00 am, date of 08/01/2009. The only few faces present were those of humans that seem barely 18 years age being entertained. I approached one of the students I presumed was ‘born again’ playing pool while freely mingling with those inebriated with alcohol in an environment reeking of smoke and booze, he said there was no problem about it. I had at one time called the general line of the Police; in my first phone call, I was told to tell them to reduce the volume but being a Christmas day I had to bear and do without sleep and let them ‘enjoy’, on another attempt the police officer told me to refer it to the OC Mukono and hang up. Emergency lines are yet to be helpful. However I have discovered that fellow residents were making such attempts but fruitlessly. Are noisy bars/ clubs supposed to be located in residential areas more so places where students are supposed to be elitist like Uganda Christian University? It is paradoxical to note that some of the ‘controllers’ are students of the Uganda Christian University. A few students who frequent this bar to drink and smoke are the cause of this loud noise throughout the week and it is most arguably the Christians who are crucifying their faith, later they mostly attend service in the Anglican settings of the University. This wastage of talent to boose should be controlled; parents of such youth have failed in parenting. Many of these later turn to criminal activity due to the influence of alcohol. If an aggressive pastor decides to open a church playing loud music and praying to change the environment, the church will be sued or closed down very fast, but when it comes to clubs with noise, sometimes no fingers are pointed or nobody cares! Cavern Tavern in Bugujju is becoming a nuisance by disturbing the peace and rest of many at hours past midnight by playing loud music constantly till morning. On numerous attempts residents have approached them to reduce the volume of their speakers but they seem to comply intermittently or are non-compliant when approached. They claim that the loud music will attract customers yet they are killing residents slowly but surely by giving many headache and sleepless nights. Soon this place if not checked will become a place of excessive crime and immorality as development goes on. Many learned residents are tired of this noise be it the well educated, be it the businessman, doctor, priest or teacher, all suffering silently. Notices have been given to the bars music players but to no avail. I am in the process of contacting the owner of the bar to have a written statement on how they plan to adjust their loud sounds. In this a picture of weakness is seen, Ugandans have low morale for community action, Ugandans all like to suffer with problems and do not want to hit them head on, they lack solidarity, every one doesn’t want to be the one to take initiative and demonstrate. The surroundings of UCU have the highest concentration of priests but the land is loosing morality due to transformation of Bishop Tucker Theological College to a University, evil businesses are springing up to entice the students, Uganda Christian University needs to increase its influence on the surroundings morally. I decided to do something to change the environment where I live through my writing a cautioning letter signed by the residents that I delivered to the bar and copied LC1 which I handed over to the LC 1 Vice chairman to distribute to his colleagues. The rushed apologies that I received from the manager and the DJ as a result were not very detailed and it looks better to reach the owner in order to get a better conclusion that is preferably put in writing. A meeting should be held and this meeting at least should be attended by the residents and overseen by the LC chairman. If all avenues to seek the address of these matters fail, any legal aid, help from the NEMA, CID or any other person especially with authority in Mukono district is welcome. Noise by laws and ordinances exist in Uganda today but there is a need for a real law against noise pollution
Welishe Simon 0712944855, aaba44@yahoo.com