Ssebaana’s nightmare

By Joshua Zake Many pavements and shop verandahs in Kampala, especially around the Nakivubo have got a new appearance. Vendors have created many temporary markets, which have actually become permanent in the city. The effects of these temporary markets is alarming. They have adversely affected the shop owners' businesses, because they divert their customers. The shop owners pay rent in addition to other taxes whereas the market vendors pay nothing. -The markets tend to obstruct the pedestrian passage on the verandahs and pavements, therefore they have resorted to walking on the streets, which is bound to cause accidents. - The vendors have started assuming these areas as their rightful business venues, whereby in future they are likely to cause a hell of a job to dislodge them. - Apart from giving a disgusting appearance, the markets are making the city very dirty. From the foregoing the Kampala City Council would be well advised to take immediate action against the markets. This issue is a double-edged problem to Mayor Ssebaana Kizito. If the markets are not removed, they will certainly give his opponents leverage to depict how he has inefficiently managed the affairs of the city! If the markets are removed there is a risk of losing the vendor's votes. The open-air markets have given business and employment to many people, therefore they would not take kindly to being dislodged.