Energy Centre, Majestic, Gazaland remain Closed As Over 100 Arcades Set To Open In Kampala.

197 arcades out of the 247 total are hoped to open by early next week subsequent to adherence to the critical measures determinant of opening or not.

This number (197) includes 70 which provisionally failed. The major defects behind include among others no CCTV cameras, no running water, no building plans, poor waste management and no isolation room.

50 of the arcades failed to meet the expected reopening requirements and their defects were substantial, and major work was required for compliance to be achieved.

Among these are Galiraya Commercial Plaza, Kalungi Plaza, Energy Center, Gaza Land, Titanic Plaza, Mabirizi City Plaza, Soweto Arcade, Sedona Arcade and Majestic Plaza.

The underlying issues that prompted this action against these arcades was inadequacy or lack of toilets, no garbage disposal points, dilapidated buildings and no fire escape among other issues.

This was revealed by the State Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, Kabuye Kyofatogabye while updating the press on progress of the arcade inspection exercise in the Central Business District (CBD) of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

“For the ‘Failed’ buildings, interventions such as keeping the basements closed while they open are going to be explored so we increase the number of businesses that open without compromising the intended compliance with SOPs,” Kyofatogabye said.

“There shall be an engagement of arcade and building owners in this category in the course of next week to establish their progress on compliance, so businesses can reopen,” he added.

70 of the arcades provisionally failed which means that their defects could be cured easily by implementing correcting measures.

Kyofatogabye noted that by Friday August 20, the inspection teams will have gone back to the buildings of the 70 arcades that will have sought re-inspection a week before this date.

This will be executed upon notification of the Town Clerk by the property proprietor or administrator.

“All building owners of non-compliant buildings have been served with defects or non-compliance notices that detail the corrective measures that have to be undertaken before re-inspection,” Kyofatogabye said.

On Monday August 16, the inspection teams shall head to Makindye, Lubaga, Kawempe and Nakawa Divisions to ascertain compliance of arcades and other workspaces.

Arcade inspection followed the guidance of President Yoweri Museveni in his address after the Nationwide 42-day lockdown where he partially lifted the COVID-19 lockdown with restrictions on reopening of arcades in Kampala.

Among other critical measures used to make determinations of whether arcades and malls should be opened or not are; 50% capacity in the arcades, register of all tenants, CCTV camera surveillance and presence of compliance officers.

The minister noted that the enforcement teams will continue to ensure that all streets are void of vendors and encouraged those that trade in irregular spaces to move to markets and the outskirts of the CBD.

“Government through KCCA has greatly improved infrastructure like roads, street lighting and drainage in the suburbs attracting developments that are quickly and competitively providing workspaces,” Kyofatogabye remarked.