44 SATURDAY VISION, February 8, 2014 HOMES & CONSTRUCTION Mpererwe benefits from neighbours BY JOHN MASABA NTIL you mention its neighbouring suburbs, Kasangati and Gayaza, one would be hard-pressed to find people on the streets of UKampala who know the location of Mpererwe. It is a suburb living in the shadows of its neighbours. But there is a lot that sets it apart. Mpererwe is cleaner and more orderly. There are plenty of rubbish skips in the town. A hot midday sun is nothing to worry about because there is a constant cool breeze that keeps sweeping across. It is perhaps due to the trees that still stand tall in Mpererwe town, despite the numerous houses. Found on the Kampala–Gayaza Road, Mper- erwe is the third major trading centre after, Ka- lerwe, Kyebando and Kanyanya. It is bordered by Katalemwa, in Wakiso district, to the north; Kisaasi to the east, Kanyanya to the south and Kawempe to the west. The suburb is located in the confluence of the Lusanja-Kiteezi, Mwaze-Gayaza and Kampala- Foodstuffs are cheaper in Mpererwe than other city suburbs. Pictures by John Masaba Gayaza roads. Development Rent Mukasa says the taxi fare for Gayaza for long Residents think the area is beginning to reap The price of a two bedroom self-contained was unreasonably high, but with the arrival the benefits of the completion of the Kampala- house in a fence costs between sh400,000 and of the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Gayaza Road. The road was completed two sh500,000 per month. But a single bedroom Association-owned Awakula Enume buses the years ago. self-contained house, costs between sh250,000 fares have gone down. It now costs between Ben Agaba, a timber dealer in Mpererwe, and sh300,000 per month. There are also sh1,000 and sh1,500 travelling by taxi and says: “Before the road was completed, the fares single-room self-contained houses, which go for sh1,000 by bus. were too high and taxis were few. The quick- sh150,000 per month. est means of transport from the city was by Hospitals bodaboda,” he says. The positives If you need medical services, there are many Now, the changing face of Mpererwe is creat- Mukasa says Kampala Capital City Authority clinics and health centres, among them is St. ing opportunities for real estate developers has facilitated the boom in real estate by work- Stephen’s, Mpererwe Hospital - a private 100- and people looking to build homes. Residents ing on the feeder roads that lead into the hous- bed community hospital. It is affiliated to the attribute this to the emergence of commercial ing units. Mpererwe has another incentive - the Church of Uganda. Mpererwe is also home to Trucks often collect garbage in the town and residential buildings. food prices are low, compared to other suburbs Katalemwa Cheshire Home for Rehabilitation Hamuza Mukasa, a property agent, says in Kampala. Mukasa attributes the low prices to Services, which cares for disabled people. The Mpererwe is bustling with businesses and the the fact that many people in Mpererwe practice home is managed by the Catholic Church. suburb rarely goes to sleep. backyard farming, which means they are likely MPERERWE IN NUMBERS to sell their surplus. Night life Land He says being at the intersection of several The area bustles with a lot of activity at night. The taxi fare According to Mukasa, a 50x100ft plot goes for roads from more rural settings like Buwambo, Although there are a number of decent pubs, from the city sh30m (with a land title) near the road. You can Kiteezi and Gayaza, trucks carrying foodstuffs most people prefer to venture outside the centre to find one for less if it is not located near the to the city make a stopover in Mpererwe and suburb, to joints like Whispers in Kanyanya Mpererwe. Sh1,500 road. Most people selling land in replenish supplies for the food market that line and Afro Club in Kasangati. These are liked Commut- Mpererwe are target the high de- the Gayaza Road. because they regularly invite popular musicians ers use the mand for accommodation, among Being an urban centre traffic jam is expected. to perform. Gayaza-bound taxis to get the corporate. However, the suburb has found a way out, to Mpererwe. There are also Mukasa says this is due to using the many alternative routes, which ease Security buses, which charge sh1,000 Mpererwe’s proximity to plush the traffic. He cites the Kyanja-Kisaasi road or According to Kikuubo zone LC1 chairman, Paul for the same distance. suburbs like Ntinda and the Bahai Kisaasi road, which give you a quick Wanobere, they insist on a letter of introduc- Bukoto, where the prices passage into the city centre. tion from the previous LC1 leader for every of rental houses have shot For commuters, there are many new resident. They also keep records of every through the roof. taxis plying the Gayaza route resident’s identity card. and these do not stop until midnight. Sh500,000 The monthly rent for a two-bedroom, self- contained house in Mpererwe. In some places, it could be less by sh50,000. Sh30m Plots of 50x100ft cost sh30m. The amount could be less for plots far from There are many taxis plying the Gayaza route and these do not stop, until midnight the road.