Court Orders Eviction of Hoima Mechanics

The High Court in Hoima has ordered the eviction of 300 Mechanics operating on the streets of Hoima town.  

The court order signed by Moses Kagoda Ntende, the Hoima Chief Magistrate was issued on 25 April 2018.  

“You are hereby directed to evict/arrest the said persons, agents, servants and anybody bound by this order operating in ungazetted areas within Kahoora Division Hoima Municipality”. Reads part of the Court Order.

    Last Month, Hoima Municipality authorities issued a one-week ultimatum to mechanics operating in ungazetted places in Kahoora Division Hoima Municipality to vacate or else they be forcefully evicted.

  The municipal officials argue that oil waste originating from motorcycles being repaired by the mechanics have spoiled the newly built roads under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Program-USMID project. The most affected are Kwebiha and Bunyoro Kitara Roads.  

David Kyasanku, the Hoima Municipal town clerk says they have acquired a piece of land in Kiryatete industrial area in Kahoora division where the Mechanics will be relocated.

The mechanics defied the ultimatum and vowed never to move to the new site citing insecurity, lack of toilets and insufficient space.  

Denis Asiimwe, from Majimoto Auctioneers and Court Bailiff that was contracted to evict the mechanics, says that they have given the mechanics three days to have vacated or else they face forceful eviction.  

Most of the mechanics who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity says they are ready to battle the court bailiff adding that they are not ready to move to the new said site.  

They say they have never been officially introduced to the new site by the Municipal Authorities while others say the Municipal Authorities should give them a grace period.