Authorities in Kampala have warned landlords at Ovino Mall in Kisenyi to take responsibility for the management of the property following a wave of complaints from tenants.
The complaints centre on poor hygiene, especially in the toilets, insecurity, and what traders describe as weak management.
The intervention follows a joint meeting involving the Uganda Police, Resident City Commissioners, and the Federation of Uganda Traders Association (FUTA).
The meeting was held at the Ovino Mall parking yard in Kisenyi.
Kampala Resident City Commissioner Lule Mawiya said his office had received repeated complaints from tenants about the state of the building.
“This issue has come to my attention as I continue to receive complaints from tenants. Misunderstandings among landlords in the city are contributing to insecurity,” Mawuya said.
Ovino Mall was previously owned by the Tirupati Group. Some units were later sold off under a condominium arrangement, a move that has since been blamed for creating confusion over responsibility for the property.
Tenants say the lack of clear management has led to the deterioration of facilities, particularly sanitation and security.
During the meeting, members of the Tirupati family, led by Miraj Barot, were asked to explain the source of the problem.
Barot said responsibility should not be placed on one party alone. He accused some landlords of abandoning their duties and leaving the burden to others.
“We must share responsibilities. Tenants also need to play their role in keeping their working environment safe and clean,” he said.
John Kabanda, a leader in FUTA, praised tenants for speaking out.
“Traders should always be bold enough to raise their concerns. I have received several complaints from traders at Ovino about landlords neglecting their responsibilities. I am glad that authorities have intervened,” Kabanda said.
Police officers and several deputy RCCs attended the meeting, including Ali Shafiq from Kampala Central and Assistant RDC Hajati Fatuma Katongole.
