RITAH

The residents of Jokolera, Muzikiti zone in Kasangati Town Council Wakiso district have demonstrated hunger towards the American tower company which is planning to construct the 5g tele –telecommunication mast in their area. These claim that these masts have negative effects most especially on their health.

Residents of Muzikiti zone in Kasaggati with other members of the local officials are in disagreement with NEMA and UCC for allowing the American tower company to construct the 5g mast on their land forcefully without their concern.

According to Robert Wasizilra a trade unionist and resident of the Jokololera zone, they are relying on the report extracted from the research on the effects of masts enacted near the residents, and yet they are supposed to be 7.5 km away from the people.

some of the residents say that the American tower company Uganda visited them and spoke to some of the community people, who illegally sold them their land to construct the mast without notice

These are worried about their properties and land since they are not sure of where they will be going.

These have blamed the government for incusing out licenses and authorities to the ATC without listening to the community.

Some of the police officers who were seen on the site trying to stop the residents claimed that they had letters from NEMA and the Uganda Communications Commission that gave authority to the American tower company to construct the masts in their area.

Speaking to the head of public and international relations at UCC, Mukite Rebecca on the issuing of the licenses to the company to construct masts in the identified areas, she rejected the claims

She added that telecommunications are coming near to the residents due to the advancement in technology and it is all over the globe and not only in Uganda.  She urges the residents not to be in fear but to allow the company to carry on its duties.

Regarding the issue of the effects of these masts on the lives of the people, mukite says that there is no evidence found according to the research made by the World Health Organization; however, Dr Mugisha Noleb the community Cancer Oncology, Uganda Cancer Institute expounded on this case.

The American Tower Company Uganda provides the wireless infrastructure needed to enable a connected world—outdoors, indoors, and in urban and rural locations.