WAKISO. Residents of Kayonjo Bulonde, Cell, Kajjanzi Town Council have decried betrayal by leaders after an American company, ATC commenced construction of a mast in their residential area.
They say they have been betrayed by nearly every office including their own local leaders where they have petitioned.
At least seventeen homes have written petitions to the office of the Prime Minister, Kajjansi Town Council, the Resident District Commissioner, Police among others.
“But apart from the NEMA, no other office has responded to us. They have all shunned us,” Mr. Zziwa Joseph said as they held a peaceful demonstration on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, works at the site were ongoing with pillars already above the ground level. Men were busy grading the land. Metals that are due to be used to raise the mast were already in the site. Trucks were ferrying soil.to fill up the area.
Ms. Bukirwa Betty said that she owns rentals near the site of the mast .
“But already my tenants have left. We understand these masts pose health hazards.,” Bukirwa who is the Nnabakyala of the area said.
Mr. Hatima Faraj another property owner said that ATC should buy off their land ” so that we settle elsehwere.”
“No one is standing with us, our health is important for us, if they want let them buy us all and we leave this place,” Faraj said.
He said that the distance between the mast and the nearest house should be 400metres.
In response to their petition, the executive directors of NEMA, Francis Ogwal told the residents there is no scientific evidence that construction of a mast near homes is of a heth danger.
Ogwal also told residents that masts don’t emit noise that pose a danger to residential areas.
He argued residents to embrace the project because it will facilitate quality communication and development consequently add value to the residential area.
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