Kalerwe’s new look boosts business
Aug 11, 2011
A few months ago, people avoided Kalerwe Market like the plague because of the incessant traffic jam, a narrow potholed road, dust and rubbish.
By Roselyn Karatsi
A few months ago, people avoided Kalerwe Market like the plague because of the incessant traffic jam, a narrow potholed road, dust and rubbish.
Even the fact that the market has some of the best food prices did not lure people.
A family in Kyebando said it did its shopping at Nakawa Market, which was farther away.
People who lived on Gayaza Road avoided the route at peak hours because of the traffic jam.
“Kalerwe was dirty, ugly and I never wanted to tell anyone that it was my home,†said Cathy, a resident.
But that is fading into history since the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) started working on Gayaza Road.
Dan Alinange, the UNRA spokesperson, said the refurbished road has parking space for offloading trucks and customer vehicles.
When UNRA started working on the road about two years ago, business and life on Gayaza Road changed.
“The 42km road construction project is a gateway to great business,†Alinange said.
Cosmas Musiisi, a businessman at Kalerwe Market hopes the new parking slots will increase the number of customers.
“Taxis used to get damaged because the road was bad,’’ said Emmanuel Kyazze, the secretary of Kalerwe Taxi Park.
He added that with the new road, there was hope for better business.
“More people have chosen to settle on Gayaza Road since there is easy access to the city,†Kyazze says.
The growing number of people living in Gayaza will help turn Kalerwe into a satellite town, he adds.
Virgin grounds have been broken and many more buildings are coming up in the area. Old buildings, which no one gave a second glance before have been renovated and those that had been neglected have been completed.
Shops have opened with new stock to suit the new look and attract new people.
Diana Nakawengo, an employee at a photo studio, says business is good.
“This road is a saviour. It has reduced accident since vehicles no longer join the main road anyhow,†she says.
However, Musiisi notes that for Kalerwe to flourish, some things have to change.
He points out that roadside vendors sabotage business.
A nurse working with a local pharmacy said roadside vendors make the market dirty because they dump rubbish in the roadside tunnels.
“The tunnels are clogged and cannot take water away when it rains,†she said.
Alinage observes that roadside vendors should be forced out because they have prevented the contractors from working on the tunnels, adding that the matter has been made worse by local leaders who politicise the situation.
The market vendors have also expressed fear that with lack of proper garbage disposal, the market will continue being filthy.
“People need to be sensitised about the importance of proper rubbish disposal,’’ a vendor said.
As the traders celebrate the market’s new look, they need to hold their leaders accountable regarding cleanliness so that the hygiene-sensitive shopper is lured and hooked, a shopper observes.
A few months ago, people avoided Kalerwe Market like the plague because of the incessant traffic jam, a narrow potholed road, dust and rubbish.
Even the fact that the market has some of the best food prices did not lure people.
A family in Kyebando said it did its shopping at Nakawa Market, which was farther away.
People who lived on Gayaza Road avoided the route at peak hours because of the traffic jam.
“Kalerwe was dirty, ugly and I never wanted to tell anyone that it was my home,†said Cathy, a resident.
But that is fading into history since the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) started working on Gayaza Road.
Dan Alinange, the UNRA spokesperson, said the refurbished road has parking space for offloading trucks and customer vehicles.
When UNRA started working on the road about two years ago, business and life on Gayaza Road changed.
“The 42km road construction project is a gateway to great business,†Alinange said.
Cosmas Musiisi, a businessman at Kalerwe Market hopes the new parking slots will increase the number of customers.
“Taxis used to get damaged because the road was bad,’’ said Emmanuel Kyazze, the secretary of Kalerwe Taxi Park.
He added that with the new road, there was hope for better business.
“More people have chosen to settle on Gayaza Road since there is easy access to the city,†Kyazze says.
The growing number of people living in Gayaza will help turn Kalerwe into a satellite town, he adds.
Virgin grounds have been broken and many more buildings are coming up in the area. Old buildings, which no one gave a second glance before have been renovated and those that had been neglected have been completed.
Shops have opened with new stock to suit the new look and attract new people.
Diana Nakawengo, an employee at a photo studio, says business is good.
“This road is a saviour. It has reduced accident since vehicles no longer join the main road anyhow,†she says.
However, Musiisi notes that for Kalerwe to flourish, some things have to change.
He points out that roadside vendors sabotage business.
A nurse working with a local pharmacy said roadside vendors make the market dirty because they dump rubbish in the roadside tunnels.
“The tunnels are clogged and cannot take water away when it rains,†she said.
Alinage observes that roadside vendors should be forced out because they have prevented the contractors from working on the tunnels, adding that the matter has been made worse by local leaders who politicise the situation.
The market vendors have also expressed fear that with lack of proper garbage disposal, the market will continue being filthy.
“People need to be sensitised about the importance of proper rubbish disposal,’’ a vendor said.
As the traders celebrate the market’s new look, they need to hold their leaders accountable regarding cleanliness so that the hygiene-sensitive shopper is lured and hooked, a shopper observes.