KCC officials disagree over Owino Market lease
Feb 07, 2009
MARKET INTELLIGENCE<br>A FRESH stand-off between Owino Market vendors and Kampala City Council (KCC) is threatening peace in the country’s biggest market. This is due to contradictions among KCC officials, with Kampala mayor, Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala sa
MARKET INTELLIGENCE
BY MIKAILI SSEPPUYA
A FRESH stand-off between Owino Market vendors and Kampala City Council (KCC) is threatening peace in the country’s biggest market. This is due to contradictions among KCC officials, with Kampala mayor, Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala saying the vendors can redevelop the market, while KCC technocrats are saying the opposite.
Although the mayor has verbally promised the vendors the right to develop the market, nothing has been put on paper. This means the vendors have nothing so far.
The technocrats say there has to be a procurement process that includes tendering, evaluation of the bids, announcement of the winner and giving out the lease.
“It is not clear if they have followed the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority rules because the market is a public asset. Have they got a signed lease from KCC? If they haven’t, it will be difficult,†one technocrat observed.
Godfrey Kayongo, the chairman of Owino Market Vendors Association, says there will be a demonstration if KCC denies them the market deal, yet they are supported by the President and mayor.
He says it doesn’t make sense for the town clerk to say they have to consult somebody when KCC didn’t consult before chasing vendors from Nakasero, Shauri Yaako and Katimba markets.
“Who did they consult when they gave Basajjabalaba Nakasero or when they chased vendors from part of Shauri Yaako to give it to one businessman or when they chased away traders from Katimba market?â€
“There are two reports. One is supported by the President and the Mayor and gives us the market, while the other one is supported by the town clerk and financial director. So, who would you believe?
“This is like a man taking food home to his wife and she refuses to cook it. Those officials obstructing us are like the wife. We consider their views like Satan’s.
Kayongo was reacting to the town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu’s assertion that more consultations were needed before leasing the market.
KCC’s finance director Bakka Musujja was quoted as saying during a budget performance review this week that they would not lease out public markets anymore, including St. Balikuddembe (Owino) because that makes council lose revenue.
Lack of a conclusive decision is giving many vendors sleepless nights because of the huge sums of money they have contributed to Kayongo’s scheme, which amount to over sh1b.
The money is supposed to be used for obtaining the lease and developing the market.
Recently, media houses ran stories of vendors celebrating after they had been given permission to redevelop the market.
The market deal has been mired in further controversy with a splinter group opposing the vendors association’s plans to redevelop it.
KCC authorities had opposed the group from collecting funds for the lease, saying it had not given the association the right to redevelop the market.
This is not the first time KCC authorities are contradicting each other, yet the survival of many vendors depends on the market.
BY MIKAILI SSEPPUYA
A FRESH stand-off between Owino Market vendors and Kampala City Council (KCC) is threatening peace in the country’s biggest market. This is due to contradictions among KCC officials, with Kampala mayor, Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala saying the vendors can redevelop the market, while KCC technocrats are saying the opposite.
Although the mayor has verbally promised the vendors the right to develop the market, nothing has been put on paper. This means the vendors have nothing so far.
The technocrats say there has to be a procurement process that includes tendering, evaluation of the bids, announcement of the winner and giving out the lease.
“It is not clear if they have followed the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority rules because the market is a public asset. Have they got a signed lease from KCC? If they haven’t, it will be difficult,†one technocrat observed.
Godfrey Kayongo, the chairman of Owino Market Vendors Association, says there will be a demonstration if KCC denies them the market deal, yet they are supported by the President and mayor.
He says it doesn’t make sense for the town clerk to say they have to consult somebody when KCC didn’t consult before chasing vendors from Nakasero, Shauri Yaako and Katimba markets.
“Who did they consult when they gave Basajjabalaba Nakasero or when they chased vendors from part of Shauri Yaako to give it to one businessman or when they chased away traders from Katimba market?â€
“There are two reports. One is supported by the President and the Mayor and gives us the market, while the other one is supported by the town clerk and financial director. So, who would you believe?
“This is like a man taking food home to his wife and she refuses to cook it. Those officials obstructing us are like the wife. We consider their views like Satan’s.
Kayongo was reacting to the town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu’s assertion that more consultations were needed before leasing the market.
KCC’s finance director Bakka Musujja was quoted as saying during a budget performance review this week that they would not lease out public markets anymore, including St. Balikuddembe (Owino) because that makes council lose revenue.
Lack of a conclusive decision is giving many vendors sleepless nights because of the huge sums of money they have contributed to Kayongo’s scheme, which amount to over sh1b.
The money is supposed to be used for obtaining the lease and developing the market.
Recently, media houses ran stories of vendors celebrating after they had been given permission to redevelop the market.
The market deal has been mired in further controversy with a splinter group opposing the vendors association’s plans to redevelop it.
KCC authorities had opposed the group from collecting funds for the lease, saying it had not given the association the right to redevelop the market.
This is not the first time KCC authorities are contradicting each other, yet the survival of many vendors depends on the market.