PRESS STATEMENT MANAGEMENT OF DISPLAY OF CAMPAIGN MATERIALS AND CONTROL OF NOISE POLLUTION IN THE CITY AHEAD OF THE 2021 GENERAL ELECTIONS

MINISTRY OF KAMPALA CAPITAL CITY AND METROPOLITAN AFFAIRS

PRESS STATEMENT

BY THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR KAMPALA CAPITAL CITY AND METROPOLITAN AFFAIRS ON MANAGEMENT OF DISPLAY OF CAMPAIGN MATERIALS AND CONTROL OF NOISE POLLUTION IN THE CITY AHEAD OF THE 2021 GENERAL ELECTIONS.

October 23^rd, 2020

On 7^th July 2020, KCCA issued guidelines on the display of campaigning posters in the city, unfortunately, the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs has observed with concern the continued haphazard placement and display of advertisements in form of fliers, posters, placards and bill boards in areas that are not authorized for such purposes as well as uncontrolled noise in the City.

Such tools have been placed on road junctions, roundabouts, road islands, pavements, street poles, trees, perimeter walls and many other non-gazetted locations within the city. As a result, these tools have visually constrained both motorists and pedestrians from easily navigating through the City, led to accidents, blockage of walkways, increased littering that has also led to blockage of drainages, noise emission & pollution, obstruction of security installations like street cameras, covering street address & directional signage to mention but a few.

These acts contravene Section 97 (4) of the National Environment Management Act, 2019 which provides for Prohibition of littering whereby “a person shall not place, deposit or allow any waste to be placed or deposited on his or her premises or on private property, on a public street, roadside, or in a ditch, river, stream, lake, pond, canal, channel, park, gulch, ravine, excavation, or other place where it may be or become a public health nuisance”.   Section 97 (9) of the act is further to the effect that “a person who contravenes the above provisions commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding five hundred and fifty currency points (UGX 11,000,000/=)”.

Under the Physical Planning Act 2010 and the National Physical Planning Standards and Guidelines 2011 permission is required from the relevant authority to place or display any advert or undertake any development including erection of billboards. 

Section 33 (ii) of the Physical Planning Act 2010 is to the effect that “a person who undertakes development without development permission contravenes the law and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding forty-eight currency points (Ugx 960,000/=) or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both”.

It should also be noted that the National Environment Act Cap 153 and the National Environment (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations, 2003. Prohibit emission of noise in excess of the permissible noise level unless permitted to do so. All campaign drives with sound producing Public Address Systems are required to obtain clearance from KCCA and must follow the prescribed routes.

The Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs is aware that as we prepare for the 2021 general elections, participants and their supporters ought to use the various tools mentioned above to popularize their candidates and candidature, but this has to be done in a regularized manner with authorization from KCCA in Kampala.

We therefore appeal the general public to cooperate with KCCA and desist from the aforementioned acts as we shall not refrain from dealing decisively with those who contravene these directives.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY

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Namugwanya Benny Bugembe (MP)