Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has Saturday closed two bars in Kololo, Kampala for noise pollution, which inconveniences their neighbourhood.
The closed bars are Atmosphere Lounge and Big Mike’s Bar all located in Kololo, a Kampala suburb known to be residence of the affluent.
According to KCCA’s Spokesperson, Peter Kauju, the closure is part of their launched crackdown on noise polluters within the city.
“We have been engaging several bar owners for two years now over their noise but they have become defiant. So, starting this week, we shall be patrolling the city in the night to crackdown on them since they grossly abuse rights of other people,” Kaujju told SoftPower News Saturday.
He says the closed bars have been flouting public health regulations and that they as well lacked operational licences.
The move comes a couple of days after five residents of Kololo, including Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of Oxfam International, dragged seven bars to court, for noise pollution.
Two of the bars that have already been closed by city authorities are among those that were dragged to court. Others include Casablanca Bar and Restaurant, H2O Bar and Lounge, Bubbles O’Learys and Wave Lounge.
The complainants allege that the bars have huge screens and floodlights which reflect bright light in their homes.
They want the bars to be restrained from hosting music concerts and late night parties which disrupt their peace.
At the beginning of this month, Makerere based Pastor and proprietor of House of Prayer Ministries, Aloysius Bugingo, was alongside KCCA dragged to court by Hajji Ali Sserunjogi, the former Democratic Party (DP) Vice Chairman over noise from the church.
The 85-year-old politician who represented over 300 residents of Makerere Zone D and Kibuga in Kawempe Division claims that the noise from Pastor Bugingo’s church has denied them their right to a healthy environment guaranteed under the Constitution.
KCCA’s spokesperson says the Authority’s operations are not limited to bars. He explained that night clubs and worship places like mosques and churches found to be culpable for noise pollution will not be spared.