Jinja City Council officials, led by Mayor Nasser Ashraf, argue that mechanics operating on the streets are doing so illegally. Streets like Spire Road, Oboja Road, Kirinya Road, and Eng Dhikusoka or Obote Way have been identified as locations where vehicles are being repaired, transforming them into makeshift “garages.”
Mayor Ashraf emphasized that this practice disrupts traffic flow, resulting in unnecessary jams across the city. He stated that any vehicle found being repaired on the streets will be impounded, and mechanics will be promptly brought to court and charged according to road and traffic laws.
The Mayor highlighted that the council is not receiving any revenue from these roadside mechanics, except for a few who have registered under garage ownership. Despite multiple notifications to the mechanics, Mayor Ashraf urged them to be prepared for actions that the council enforcement team will take soon.
Various individuals, including Mr. Ronald Kagawa from an Inland Container Depot (ICD), expressed challenges faced by motorists, especially truck drivers, due to narrowed roads obstructed by vehicles under repair. The roads, constructed with the assistance of the World Bank, were intended to ease accessibility to ICDs for screening purposes.
Boda boda rider Mr. Ayub Mulondo and truck driver Mr. Joseph Okello echoed concerns about the intimidating behavior of mechanics on the roads. They emphasized that the city council should ensure that roads, such as Obote Way, serve their intended purpose and not be misused by mechanics, emphasizing that taxpayer money funded the construction of these roads.
