Zana vendors decry dilapidated market, hygiene concerns raised

WAKISO - Wakiso district-based Zana market vendors have expressed concern about the dilapidated toilet and the market's roof, saying their health is at risk.

The roof structure is made of corrugated iron sheets that are rusting, and papyrus has been improvised to shield the market vendors from the sunshine and rain.

“To make matters worse, even the timber is rotting, and when it rains, the roof leaks,” market vice chairperson Rehema Namala says, adding that they are still waiting on the Government to come through with its promise of a new market.

Tom Lukanze, a vegetable vendor, said the foul smell emanating from the dilapidated toilet is horrible because there is no water to flush the toilet.

He explained that the market occupants use small jerricans of water, which at times is not adequate, and attempts to fill the plastic drum with water is in vain due to scarcity of water.

Sauda Mayanja, another market vendor, observed that poor sanitation can lead to the spread of diseases since the market toilet lacks water flushing facility and called for rescue.

This was during the July 28, 2025, market cleaning exercise organised by the Rotary Club of Lubowa along Entebbe Road.

Members of Rotary Club of Lubowa interacting after cleaning exercise at Zana market along Entebbe Road in Wakiso district. (Credit: Francis Emorut)

All hope is not lost

However, all hope is not lost as the Rotary Club has promised to renovate the dilapidated toilet.

“We appreciate the offer to renovate our market toilet as this is going to improve the hygiene in the market,” Julius Tumwesigye, a butcher, said.

According to Rotary Club of Lubowa president Peter Ssamula, the club was motivated to clean the market and renovate the toilet to improve the hygiene for better lives of the market vendors.

“We are going to provide running water to flush the toilets and a hand-washing facility to improve hygiene and ensure that food items are not contaminated, like meat and fish,” Ssamula said.

He expressed concern that flies from the dilapidated toilet are attracted to meat and fish being sold adjacent to it, which is likely to cause contamination.

“Vendors use a small jerrycan to pour water after using the toilet. There are no hand-washing facilities. Each user goes back to their stalls without washing their hands. They then touch vegetables and all their merchandise with unclean hands, which potentially spread diseases to customers and the public at large,” Ssamula said.

Ssamula added that the flies from the unhygienic toilet perch on the fish and the meat that is served to the public.

“Various families, hotels, friends and people we visit buy their stuff from this market and therefore, are exposed to contaminated foodstuffs and other health risks. Hence helping the market to maintain hygiene standards is necessary and urgent,” he said.

Ssamula added that the toilet would be renovated soon because the engineer has been instructed to start work.

“We are going to renovate the toilet facilities at the market to provide a flushing system and hand-washing facility to improve the hygiene and health of all market users,” Ssamula said.

He added that Rotary Club of Lubowa will undertake general cleaning of the market and sensitise vendors about hygiene practices, and have the market management introduce a small user fee to maintain the facilities.

He explained that Rotary 2025/2026 year is undertaking a project dubbed "Acts of Kindness" and that’s why the club came in to address the plight of market vendors in Zana market.