Rukungiri Municipality Continues Demolition of Illegal Structures Amid Residents’ Complaints

Rukungiri: Rukungiri Municipality yesterday June 2, marked Day Four of its enforcement exercise aimed at removing temporary and illegal structures in line with the new trade order policy being implemented in urban centres across the country.

The operation continued along designated routes as municipal officials intensified efforts to restore order and clear public spaces of unauthorized structures. During the exercise, officials impounded merchandise displayed beyond designated boundaries, marked structures that had not been marked previously, and cleared encroached sanitary lanes to improve accessibility and sanitation within the town.

However, some residents who requested anonymity criticized the municipal leadership for destroying their property without prior notice or marking. They claimed that some of the demolished structures had not been marked before the exercise.

The affected residents further said that their properties were within the required boundary lines, yet municipal officials still intended to demolish them. They added that they had hired surveyors who measured their plots and provided maps showing that their structures were properly positioned.

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In response, the Senior Physical Planner for Rukungiri Municipality, Kenganzi Vastine, said the exercise is intended to restore order, improve access, and ensure compliance with urban planning guidelines. She stated that the municipality will continue removing structures considered unnecessary, whether they had been marked earlier or not.

Kenganzi also warned residents against rebuilding structures without municipal approval. She emphasized that any unauthorized construction will be demolished during future enforcement operations.

She noted that the municipality will not allow unapproved developments to remain, regardless of the resources invested by property owners, and urged all affected residents to follow the proper approval procedures before undertaking any construction to avoid further losses.

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