Rukungiri Market Developers To Sue Municipality Over Ownership Dispute

Rukungiri: Developers of Rukungiri Municipality Central Market, Bus and Taxi Park have resolved to take the municipality to court over a dispute concerning the ownership and allocation of market stalls and lock-ups.

The decision was reached during a meeting held on November 3, at Christ the King Parish in Rukungiri, where members expressed frustration over what they described as the municipality’s failure to address their concerns following a directive by the State Minister for Local Government, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, during his recent visit to Rukungiri.

The developers, under their association, say they intend to seek a court injunction to protect their interests, accusing municipal authorities of favouring tenants at their expense.

Speaking during the meeting, the association chairman, Geoffrey Tindagwesire Kenzigye, said the developers were initially given a lease to construct the market and taxi park, which expired in 2019. However, he explained that their stay was later extended as they waited for the redevelopment of the market.

Kenzigye dismissed claims that the developers no longer have any interest in the market, saying agreements signed with tenants provided for their continued occupancy as they waited for the construction of a modern market.

CUE IN…………GEOFFREY…..RR.

Meanwhile, The Municipal Councillor for Kinyasano ward, Innocent Rubarondesa said disagreements over land documents and plot allocations had affected earlier arrangements, although the developers had initially been considered for priority in the redevelopment process.

He urged the parties to resolve their differences, saying the market could either be developed by the original developers or taken over by government.

CUE IN………..INNOCENT….RR.

The Chairman of Rukungiri Municipality Property Owners, Robert Baguma Tweyambe, urged the developers to put their grievances in writing, attach their signatures and submit the document to the municipal council for consideration.

He said this would give the authorities an opportunity to examine their concerns and consider them during the redevelopment process.

Meanwhile, Rukungiri Business Community Chairperson Cresistom Byaruhanga, commonly known as Rwakaana, called for the developers to be given priority, warning that failure to address their concerns could create unnecessary conflict between property owners and municipal authorities.

CUE IN………. RWAKAANA……RR.

Some of the affected developers, including Edson Ampereza and Aidah Turyagyenda, accused municipal authorities of giving tenants too much influence in the dispute.

They claimed that some tenants had stopped paying rent and even denied knowing their landlords when asked to fulfil their rental obligations.

The developers said previous efforts to resolve the matter had failed, forcing them to consider legal action.

CUE IN……..VOX POP OF DEVELOPERS…..RR.

By the end of the meeting, members agreed to contribute money towards hiring lawyers and filing a court case, saying they had lost confidence in the municipality’s ability to address their concerns.