By Our Reporter
Authorities in Mbarara City have launched a renewed push to clean up the urban landscape, targeting dilapidated and illegally constructed buildings in a bid to improve safety, planning, and the city’s overall image.
City leaders say the move is part of a broader strategy to enforce building standards and promote orderly urban development, especially within the central business district.
According to Justine Barekye, several property owners have erected structures that do not conform to approved building plans, making them liable for enforcement action, including possible demolition.
“We are going to engage property owners first,” Barekye said, noting that the council will hold meetings to sensitize stakeholders before taking tougher measures.
She urged owners of rundown buildings to take immediate steps to renovate, repaint, and improve the frontages of their premises, warning that failure to comply could attract enforcement action.
The city is also turning its attention to undeveloped plots within prime areas. Barekye called on landowners who have left plots idle in the city centre to either develop them promptly or sell them to investors ready to undertake meaningful projects.
The initiative comes amid growing concern over the rising number of neglected structures, which authorities say are not only an eyesore but also pose safety risks to the public.
City officials believe that enforcing standards will help attract investment, enhance the business environment, and position Mbarara as a modern, well-planned urban centre.
As enforcement looms, property owners are now under pressure to align with city regulations or face the consequences in Mbarara’s latest urban transformation drive.
