Kyambadde faults Kamya for evicting Park-yard traders

Trade Minister, Amelia Kyambadde. Photo/File

Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde is not happy with Kampala minister, Beti Kamya who recently ordered the eviction of thousands of traders from the Park yard market.

Kyambadde told New Vision in an exclusive interview that it was not right to evict the over 15,000 traders from the market without giving them an alternative place to relocate.

The traders were evicted recently at night while they had abandoned their stalls and returned to their homes to rest.

Kyambadde said, "We should have counted the traders one by one and relocated them to different markets before the eviction if my Ministry had been involved."

She made the remarks while responding to a question about the deteriorating economic situation in the country and her ministry's plan to help the business community. 

Kyambadde noted that she was particularly concerned about the eviction of the park yard vendors at this critical time when the economy is struggling.

This is not the first time Kyambadde is unhappy with KCCA leadership for evicting business people in Kampala without her involvement.

In 2012, Kyambadde nearly slapped KCCA law enforcement officers who were evicting Sarah Kizito the wife of the then Mayor of Kampala Central Division, Godfrey Nyakana from Centenary Park.

Ham Kiggundu, a city tycoon who won the contract to redevelop Nakivubo Market is behind the eviction that has left hundreds of traders jobless.