Uganda Security Agencies have launched investigations into allegations of extortion by some officials at Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), who are accused of demanding millions of shillings from residents along the Kampala–Jinja Highway to spare residents who are encroaching on road reserves.
According to the source, one Robert Tumwine the head enforcement Operations (UNRA), on 2nd April 2024, issued an eviction notice of 30 days threatening that failure to comply UNRA will employ forceful means to evict car Bond Operators.
“We have received multiple complaints from residents who claim that officials from (UNRA), demands payments ranging from Shs5,000,000 to Shs300,000,000 to halt evictions,” an investigative officer said.
He revealed that, on 15th April 2024, Robert Tumwine requested for Shs 15million shillings, to halt the eviction which was delivered to him at Ndere Troup Cultural Center in Kisaasi.
Similarly, on 15th October 2024, a team of bond operators visited Mr Robert Tumwine at UNRA headquarter offices in Nakawa to request him for more time, after afresh eviction notice was served, after a long discussion, he asked them to provide Shs 5M to cater for only five days.
On 21st October 2024, Mr. Johnson Ssejjemba, the Director of Roads Infrastructure and Protection Unit accompanied by the manager enforcement Unit Mr. Robert Tumwine and others toured the road reserve from Nakawa spear motors, Banda stretch to examine the extent of the road reserve encroachment, during this exercise, Mr JB Ssejjemba informed bond operators that eviction exercise would resume the following week and asked them to vacate the premises.
In the discussion, with some bond operators Ssejjemba requested the proprietor of Success Motor Bond to mobilize Shs 100million shillings from other car bonds along the busy Kampala-Jinja Road and take it to his office on Friday 15th November 2024. Adding that the reason he requested for more money was because KCCA and police officer who are to handle the operation need to be catered for.
Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport, on 2nd February 2024, issued a compelling order for the immediate eviction of people who are illegally occupying and trading on the road reserve, as stipulated by the Road Safety Act passed by Parliament in 2019.
He pointed out that, section 65(1)[e]of the Roads Act, 2019, the act explicitly states that a person conducting a business activity on the shoulder, sidewalk, or road reserve of a public road commits an offense. Upon conviction, they are liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred sixty-eight currency points, imprisonment not exceeding seven years, or both.
However, for years, people have been encroaching on road reserves country wide, particularly the Nakawa-Banda stretch, using them for business purposes like car dealerships, and others cultivating thus spoiling drainage systems, while leaving pedestrians and cyclists to navigate through narrow and dangerous spaces between parked vehicles and speeding traffic at the watch of UNRA officials.
