Jinja municipality residents to part with rubbish collection fees

Residents, traders and building owners in Jinja municipality will start paying a daily charge for the collection of the garbage they accumulate, according to a new proposal by the Municipality leadership.

Currently residents and traders pile up trash in polyethylene bags and wait for trucks to collect the garbage from their respective homes. They do not pay for the service.

Heaps of uncollected garbage are visible in the suburbs of Kazimingi, Walukuba/Masese and Mpumudde/Kimaka divisions.

Jinja municipality spokesperson Rajab Kitto says that the money paid by shop owners as trading license, is insufficient to cover the cost of garbage collection. Traders pay an average of 150,000 Shillings annually as trading license. But Kitto says that effective next year, every household will be charged for the garbage accumulated.

However, a cross section of traders has objected to the move. Annet Ntale, a restaurant owner in Jinja municipality says that proposal is unfair to them adding that the other taxes levied by the municipality are enough to cover the cost of garbage collection.

Solomon Baleke, another trader in the municipality says that such payments are burdening businesses.

But Nakalema Suzan, the health inspector for Walukuba division is optimistic that the proposal is likely to solve the garbage collection challenge the municipality has been facing. She notes that many people irresponsibly handle garbage

Francis Byabagambi, the Jinja Municipality town clerk says more consultations will be undertaken with traders to ensure that the grievances are addressed.

-URN