An unknown number of structures thought to be in their thousands have been marked for demolition by Gulu Municipal authorities.
The move, Acholi Times understands, is part of Gulu’s clamour for a city status.
Marked structures for demolishing, according to Pauline Lukwiya, the Gulu Municipality Deputy Mayor includes kiosks, latrines, semi-permanent structures, old buildings and what the mayor described as substandard buildings.
The marked buildings are mainly along major roads in the four divisions that make up Gulu municipality—Bardege, Layibi, Laroo and Pece divisions.
Deputy Mayor Lukwiya says the municipal authorities are yet to find out the exact number of the condemned structures.
But residents and owners of the structures have responded angrily to Gulu Municipal’s actions. They are accusing the municipal authorities of not giving them adequate information and time to relocate.
Those affected says the authorities have given them two weeks to leave their current locations.
Francis Mawa, a representative of the Gulu Municipal business community and proprietor Sports View Hotel says people engaged in petty business will be reduced to beggars if their structures are a demolished.
Mawa said he received a letter from Gulu Municipal Council on January 25, 2017 giving him a two week ultimatum to relocate because his house is among the condemned buildings.
Beatrice Aero, a resident of Tegwana parish along Ring Road complained that she had lived she had lived in her house since 1980 when he husband noting that she has no were to go. She asked to be given at least 4 years to relocate.
The president Gulu Municipal Development Forum, George Lapir Aligech when contacted said residents of the demolished structures and those living along road reserves were given a warning in April last year by the he minister for Housing and Urban Development to leave. The decision of the minister can’t be reversed, Aligerch said adding that due to inadequate sensitization, the municipal authorities can propose that those affected be given more time to leave.
