Over 600 Mbarara market vendors get sh100,000 cash injection

MBARARA - A total of 605 Mbarara City-based Koranorya Market vendors have each received a shillings 100,000 cash each from President Yoweri Museveni. 

The vendors received the cash under State House's Roadside Market Vendor Project yesterday, July 29, 2025, to boost their respective businesses.

The President sent the support through State House officials, led by the senior presidential advisor-elderly, Princess Pauline Nassolo and special presidential assistant on women affairs Flora Kabibi.

Kabibi thanked the vendors who had co-operated with the team during the beneficiary registration phase.

The initiative, which has been running for over three years, was designed to support informal traders who have long felt excluded from key government empowerment programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.

Invest the cash, support Museveni

Speaking at the event, Nassolo urged the beneficiaries to invest the additional capital wisely, noting that, “If put to the right use, even this small amount can grow into something meaningful.”

She encouraged the vendors to support President Museveni and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) more, noting that the President has Uganda at heart and is always willing to solve their problems.

Kabibi thanked the vendors who had co-operated with the team during the beneficiary registration phase.

She noted that, “those who weren’t around or did not cooperate at the time still have a chance in the future because this project is ongoing.”

Kabibi acknowledged the vendors’ previous grievances about missing out on government support programmes such as PDM and Emyooga, assuring them that the President had listened and all of them will benefit.

“The issues you raised reached him, and that is why this project was established specifically for you,” she explained.

Seek government opportunities

However, she also encouraged the traders to actively seek out other government opportunities.

“You have a right to benefit from PDM and Emyooga, but you must do so through SACCOs, because individual applications are not accepted under those frameworks.”

On the issue of land security, Mbarara City North Member of Parliament Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari reassured vendors that their occupancy of Koranorya Market was being formally recognised by the Government.

“No one will evict you,” he said, explaining that the lands ministry is currently processing their land titles. He confirmed that the titles would be handed over in August by lands minister Judith Nabakooba.

Most of the vendors in Koranorya sell food items such as bananas, tomatoes, onions, green vegetables, and beans, while others make a living by carrying groceries for customers using hand carts or headloads.

Several traders expressed appreciation for the support, saying it had given them a renewed sense of inclusion.

“We’ve always watched others benefit from government programs while we were left behind. This money may not be much, but it’s a big step for many of us to grow our small businesses,” said one of the vendors.

Others pledged continued loyalty to the President and his government, saying they now feel seen and supported from the top.