Security lights installed in new Soroti bus park

SOROTI – Bus operators and street vendors in Soroti City have finally left the streets after authorities installed security lights in the newly gazetted bus park.

In a letter dated April 13, 2022, the city council authorities had warned the bus operators against loading passengers on the city streets but in vain, with both bus operators and street vendors claiming then that lack of security lights in the new bus park posed insecurity to them and their clients, especially during the night.

Steven Opit, the chairperson of vendors in Soroti Owino Market, lauded the city council officials for installing security lights in the new bus park, saying that the safety of people is now guaranteed.

“The safety of our people is now guaranteed, and no one will again go back to the streets,” Opit said.

Opit continued that as long as the buses and taxis stay inside the gazetted parks, the vendors will surely do business inside the transport facilities.

James Obore, the deputy city town clerk, Soroti City urged vendors not to construct permanent structures in the bus park without consultation.

“We are looking at accommodating everyone including special hire, trucks, and tuku tukus,” he said.

According to Obore, the park was gazetted to decongest the streets and reduce accidents.

Meanwhile, Twaha Buyinza, the Soroti City police commander, warned people against going back to the streets, saying those found culpable will face the wrath of the law.

Buyinza appealed to the council authorities to create awareness so that people know exactly the dangers of hawking on the streets and why they need to operate from inside the park.

“Guide these people because most of them don’t know why we chase them off the streets. we are trying to avoid unnecessary accidents,” Buyinza said.

However Betty Akello, a vendor asked the authorities to let them build semi-permanent structures in the gazetted bus park so that they can safeguard their merchandise.

“We are ready to settle, so please allow us construct semi-permanent structures for the safety of our goods,” she said.

According to resident city commissioner Soroti, Peter Pex Paak, only the bus companies are allowed to construct semi-permanent structures in to store passengers’ property.

Paak also said the process was underway lights on the streets outside the gazetted bus park so that passengers can be safe during night hours.

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