Nakasero Market to be razed - Ssebagala
NAKASERO Market is to be demolished by June ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the mayor of Kampala has announced.
By Cyprian Musoke, Florence
Nakaayi and Paul Kiwuuwa
NAKASERO Market is to be demolished by June ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the mayor of Kampala has announced.
Nasser Sebaggala yesterday told the market tenants who met him at the city hall that they would, however, be given 30% of the plot to redevelop at the same time.
Flanked by Deputy Mayor, Florence Namayanja and production secretary, Doreen Nakatya, the mayor said he was under instructions from the government to ensure that the market does not exist in its current state.
“I got a directive that before CHOGM, they (developers) should remove Nakasero and in a few days you will find it being razed. Let them (politicians) not confuse you, nobody can stop development from taking place.â€
He added that the council had resolved to give the plot to Sheila Investments, owned by businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba, despite the fact that he owes KCC billions in un-remitted tax collections.
Sebaggala dismissed directives from Parliament to halt the plans, claiming that KCC works independently from Parliament.
Waving a letter signed by the President, he boasted that unlike his predecessor, he was privy to government plans.
“I know what the government is planning because I sit in their discussions. That is the advantage I have over my predecessor,†he said in reference to Democratic Party president Ssebaana Kizito.
“The master plan will not allow markets in town. They should be at the outskirts. We want high technology merchandise in the city centre, not tomatoes and pawpaws.â€
The vendors had expressed interest in obtaining the whole market so that they redevelop it to the standards required by the government. But the mayor warned them against resisting the government plans.
“Don’t think that we will give you that plot and you build the same small stalls. There are standards we shall go for,†he said.
Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Edward Ssekandi has directed the local government accounts committee not to proceed with their probe until court pronounces itself.
Meeting the Nakasero Market vendors at Parliament yesterday, Ssekandi said since Basajjabalaba had sent him a court communication, they should wait for the ruling.
The committee last week directed KCC to terminate the management contracts of both Sheila Investment and Victoria International over non-payment of sh4.2b. Basajjabalaba is suing KCC for breach of contract.
“We have come to thank the MPs for fighting for our rights,†Rwere Ali, the chairman of the vendors Association, said.
Their placards read: “MPs have fought for the common man’s plight. Let the vendors build and invest in Nakasero and St. Balikuddembe markets.â€
Nakaayi and Paul Kiwuuwa
NAKASERO Market is to be demolished by June ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the mayor of Kampala has announced.
Nasser Sebaggala yesterday told the market tenants who met him at the city hall that they would, however, be given 30% of the plot to redevelop at the same time.
Flanked by Deputy Mayor, Florence Namayanja and production secretary, Doreen Nakatya, the mayor said he was under instructions from the government to ensure that the market does not exist in its current state.
“I got a directive that before CHOGM, they (developers) should remove Nakasero and in a few days you will find it being razed. Let them (politicians) not confuse you, nobody can stop development from taking place.â€
He added that the council had resolved to give the plot to Sheila Investments, owned by businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba, despite the fact that he owes KCC billions in un-remitted tax collections.
Sebaggala dismissed directives from Parliament to halt the plans, claiming that KCC works independently from Parliament.
Waving a letter signed by the President, he boasted that unlike his predecessor, he was privy to government plans.
“I know what the government is planning because I sit in their discussions. That is the advantage I have over my predecessor,†he said in reference to Democratic Party president Ssebaana Kizito.
“The master plan will not allow markets in town. They should be at the outskirts. We want high technology merchandise in the city centre, not tomatoes and pawpaws.â€
The vendors had expressed interest in obtaining the whole market so that they redevelop it to the standards required by the government. But the mayor warned them against resisting the government plans.
“Don’t think that we will give you that plot and you build the same small stalls. There are standards we shall go for,†he said.
Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Edward Ssekandi has directed the local government accounts committee not to proceed with their probe until court pronounces itself.
Meeting the Nakasero Market vendors at Parliament yesterday, Ssekandi said since Basajjabalaba had sent him a court communication, they should wait for the ruling.
The committee last week directed KCC to terminate the management contracts of both Sheila Investment and Victoria International over non-payment of sh4.2b. Basajjabalaba is suing KCC for breach of contract.
“We have come to thank the MPs for fighting for our rights,†Rwere Ali, the chairman of the vendors Association, said.
Their placards read: “MPs have fought for the common man’s plight. Let the vendors build and invest in Nakasero and St. Balikuddembe markets.â€