Govt signs sh13b contract for new Mpigi Central Market

MPIGI - Government has signed a sh13 billion contract for the construction of Mpigi central market located in Mpigi district, under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Program.

The market is to be constructed by Hebron Investments Limited, under the supervision of UB Consulting engineers and the Mpigi district local government.

Ronald Kazibwe Bazalamugagga, Mpigi district commercial officer, attributed the project delays to changes in the architectural plan and lack of an architect on the district payroll. 

“We had to ask the Kampala Ministry to borrow us their architect, and the program took off,” Kazibwe revealed on Thursday at the signing ceremony held at Mpigi district headquarters in council chambers.

Presiding over the events, Monica Ejua Edemachu, the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, on Thursday, asked the contractor to do quality work.

“I appeal to the contractor to deliver quality work within the stipulated time.
All the stakeholders must cooperate and monitor this important project," she said. 

She underscored the need for the contractor to prepare proper relocation grounds where the vendors are going to be relocated to pave the way for the construction of the new market.

Edemachu also emphasised the need for vendor registration to update records of vendors with stalls in the market, who she said should be the first beneficiaries once the new market is completed.

Edith Namayega,  the district Chief Administrative Officer, highlighted the need for the contractor to employ people from the community as one way of promoting skills transfer and improving their income.

She thanked Hon Amelia Kyambadde, the MP-elect for Mawokota North, for the efforts she put in towards the construction of this market. 

“When she was still our area Member of Parliament and Minister, Kyambadde initiated this program, and we have been riding on her plan,” Namayega said.

Kyambadde, currently a senior presidential advisor on trade, industry and cooperative,  and also the Member of Parliament-elect, Mawokota North, pledged maximum support for the program.

She said that the project, among many benefits, is a relief to women who have been moving on trucks to transport their produce to the markets in Kampala.