Comment: Clean up market issues
Apr 04, 2007
IN the last few months, several deaths and injuries have been registered as a result of fighting in various markets in Kampala and its suburbs.
IN the last few months, several deaths and injuries have been registered as a result of fighting in various markets in Kampala and its suburbs.
Most of these fights are between the groups of vendors in the markets and companies that were tendered by local authorities to collect market levies and manage the markets.
In Kampala, it has been mainly Bassajjabalaba’s two companies, Ms Sheila Investments in Nakasero Market and Victoria International in St. Balikudembe Market.
Investigations have revealed that a big part of this confusion in the markets is caused by a lack of coordination among the various local leaders, including politicians and technocrats like the town clerks. For example, in Nakasero and St. Balikudembe markets, the town clerk and the mayor at one time issued contradicting statements.
Local leaders are drawn into making statements, largely because they do not want to lose their votes, but the statements later turn out to be illegal.
The only way to stop these conflicts is to follow all the procedures of tendering to the letter. That way, no body will fight since everything would have been done legally.
Most of these fights are between the groups of vendors in the markets and companies that were tendered by local authorities to collect market levies and manage the markets.
In Kampala, it has been mainly Bassajjabalaba’s two companies, Ms Sheila Investments in Nakasero Market and Victoria International in St. Balikudembe Market.
Investigations have revealed that a big part of this confusion in the markets is caused by a lack of coordination among the various local leaders, including politicians and technocrats like the town clerks. For example, in Nakasero and St. Balikudembe markets, the town clerk and the mayor at one time issued contradicting statements.
Local leaders are drawn into making statements, largely because they do not want to lose their votes, but the statements later turn out to be illegal.
The only way to stop these conflicts is to follow all the procedures of tendering to the letter. That way, no body will fight since everything would have been done legally.