The Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, has handed over 204 lock-up shops at Kabale Central Market to tenants as part of efforts to protect their livelihoods and ensure public resources benefit the intended beneficiaries.
While allocating the shops to new tenants in Kabale Municipality on Monday, Minister Barugahara said the lock-ups had previously been rented out, with some of the people controlling them reportedly owning properties elsewhere in the city.
He alleged that some officials within the municipal administration and Kabale District Local Government had been creating fictitious landlords in the system to claim ownership of the shops, a practice he said undermines the rights of the intended beneficiaries.
Barugahara personally signed all 204 occupancy agreements to formalize the beneficiaries’ possession of the lock-ups.
However, he expressed concern over reports that some beneficiaries were being intimidated, warning leaders and other individuals against interfering with the vendors after the agreements had been signed.
“Once they have the agreement, no one will touch them. My warning to leaders is to stop taking what belongs to the poor,” he said.
CUE IN MINISTER BALAAM… ON LOCK-UPS… RR/ENG//
