In a bid to curb the encroachment on road reserves, UNRA has issued new regulations that will guide the use of land gazetted as road reserve.
The new regulations were formulated in November last year but took effect earlier this month. They will regulate the use of road reserves as well as ferry landing sites.
According to UNRA, a road reserves is land that measures in the rage of 15 metres from the centre of the road.
They include; The UNRA General Regulations 2017 No. 44, UNRA Vehicle Dimensions and Load Control Regulations 2017 No. 45 and UNRA Ferry Management Regulations 2017 No. 46.
During a press conference held on Wednesday, the UNRA Executive Director, Allen Kagina revealed that “any person seeking to carry out any activity on the road reserves, a ferry landing site or the road itself will be required to formally apply using a prescribed Form” as the regulations demand.
Such activities may include construction or placement of billboards or signage, placement of pipes, cables or even installation of utilities and other infrastructure.
“A person owning an existing billboard, signage or utilities infrastructure shall within three months of coming into force of these Regulations comply with the requirements provided under the regulations,” Kagina said in a statement.
The said Forms are accessible on the UNRA website which upon being filled should be submitted to the Chairperson of the Road Infrastructure Committee at UNRA headquarters in Nakawa, Kampala or upcountry stations.
UNRA says that the new rules are meant to ease the management of road infrastructure by streamlining the authorization.
In 2016, the Authority issued a notice halting further issuance of any permission for any activity on road reserves, ferry landing sites or the road.
Last year, several properties including buildings and makeshift markets along the Entebbe Road were demolished by UNRA after they were found to be encroaching on the road reserve.
