Plot owners in Bunagana town council have accused the authorities of hindering the development of plots, claiming that this has negatively impacted the development of the Bunagana border.
In 2004, the Kisoro district local government designated the Bunagana border as a business hub for development. Through the Kisoro district land board, many people were granted land in the form of plots, with 156 plots specifically allocated to developers for the construction of commercial buildings in Bunagana town council. However, for the past 20 years, many plot owners have failed to utilize these plots as intended.
During a meeting between Bunagana town council plot owners and town council authorities held on January 22, 2025, at the town council headquarters in Bufumbira South constituency, Kisoro district, plot owners expressed concern over the town council officials’ failure to expedite the development of the plots.
Plot owners decried the poor road network, delays in processing building plans, and slow land surveying processes. They urged town council officials to expedite plot surveys, construct street roads, and approve their building plans to effectively facilitate the development of the Bunagana border as a business hub.
Ndayambajje Ismail, the Mayor of Bunagana border, acknowledged that the town council lacks sufficient funding for road maintenance, which has hindered road construction and maintenance within the town council. However, he emphasized that many plots are accessible for construction.
Ndayambajje advised plot owners to utilize their plots as intended as soon as possible, emphasizing that their ownership may be subject to change in the future as the area prepares for further development.
In response, Akankwasa Benjamin, the town clerk of Bunagana town council, accused the plot owners of being reluctant to utilize their plots for the past 20 years, which he stated is illegal according to the Ugandan constitution.
Akankwasa urged the plot owners to cooperate and collaborate during the application for building plans and the surveying process to make these processes more cost-effective.
