Vendors: We could buy Nakasero Market
Kampala businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba has bought Nakasero Market in a controversial deal that has temporarily been halted by Kampala City Council. The New Vision sought views from the various stakeholders
Kampala businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba has bought Nakasero Market in a controversial deal that has temporarily been halted by Kampala City Council. The New Vision sought views from the various stakeholders
Farouk Kigowa, trader No one from Kampala City Council explained to us what was going on, until last week when Mayor Nasser Ntege Sebaggala and Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebagala toured the market. They said it was sold during John Ssebana’s regime and was divided into four plots. Only one plot, where they plan to cram the market has remained. This place is like home to us because it is where our parents worked. When school failed, we came back. Development is good, but the people should be involved. If they want a modern shopping mall, they can get land out of town like Game Stores did. Nakasero Market is for the local people.
Moses Kalaala, a vendor
I first heard that we would be given an opportunity to buy the market. We even mobilised ourselves, in vain. Now, the newspapers say the market has been sold. I appeal to the Government to side with us.
Sadah Nazziwa, trader
We have not been told what is happening. But rumour has it that the outcome will not be good. They should give us another market. we shall go anywhere they tell us to.
Amnon Ssenyendo, chicken seller
We were not consulted, otherwise we could have bought this market. We have organised vendors’ associations. But we are worried because Basajjabalaba might pull down the market. We do not know where to go.
Ronnie Katongole,
vendor
We are not sure of what is happening. But the practice has been that wherever Basajjabalaba sets foot, he breaks up things. so we are sure he is going to pull down the market. He should discuss with us the option of finding a place to relocate the market. We shall not afford rent if he builds a shopping mall because we have been paying sh13,500 monthly.
Goretti Nantale, vendor
They have ended our livelihood. I am the one looking after my children and this is where I make a living. I do not think they will spare the market. I do not know where else to go.
Christopher Kiryowa, special hire driver
I have no problem with Basajjabalaba as a businessman, provided he does not interfere with my work.
Janat Namugenyi, trader
The Government should intervene. We can manage this market by ourselves. If they had discussed this matter with us, we would have bought the market even if they demanded that we pay sh10b. We would have developed this place by building flats, leaving the ground floor for the market. This has been the most accessible market.
Abdul Businde, phone technician
I have no problem with Basajjabalaba buying this market provided he considers low-income earners. I would have been very uncomfortable for example if a foreigner was the one who had bought this place.
Abdul Businde, phone technician
I have no problem with Basajjabalaba buying this market provided he considers low-income earners. I would have been very uncomfortable for example if a foreigner was the one who had bought this place.
Betty Sserunjogi, retailer
Since they tendered the
management of this market to Sheila Investments, we have been struggling with garbage.
All they do is collect market dues, which they increase every time. We now pay sh50,000 monthly market dues. We would have done a better job, had they given our association that tender. The Government should help us. Who is this Basajjabalaba causing chaos everywhere? Is it because he has money? And who told KCC that our vendor association could not pay them the sh2b? Let them stop under-looking us.
Issah Kayizzi, butcher man
God brought us here; it is him who will take us away. Some of us came from the village to this market. Unlike those people who have been in business for long, we shall return to the village. But what shall we do there? Coffee no longer fetches a good price and bananas are infested with disease. It must be the government which ‘sold’ us because of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
They do not want Europeans to find a dirty market in the city centre. But governments abroad care about people. They have a downtown where low income earners do business.
Farouk Kigowa, trader No one from Kampala City Council explained to us what was going on, until last week when Mayor Nasser Ntege Sebaggala and Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebagala toured the market. They said it was sold during John Ssebana’s regime and was divided into four plots. Only one plot, where they plan to cram the market has remained. This place is like home to us because it is where our parents worked. When school failed, we came back. Development is good, but the people should be involved. If they want a modern shopping mall, they can get land out of town like Game Stores did. Nakasero Market is for the local people.
Moses Kalaala, a vendor
I first heard that we would be given an opportunity to buy the market. We even mobilised ourselves, in vain. Now, the newspapers say the market has been sold. I appeal to the Government to side with us.
Sadah Nazziwa, trader
We have not been told what is happening. But rumour has it that the outcome will not be good. They should give us another market. we shall go anywhere they tell us to.
Amnon Ssenyendo, chicken seller
We were not consulted, otherwise we could have bought this market. We have organised vendors’ associations. But we are worried because Basajjabalaba might pull down the market. We do not know where to go.
Ronnie Katongole,
vendor
We are not sure of what is happening. But the practice has been that wherever Basajjabalaba sets foot, he breaks up things. so we are sure he is going to pull down the market. He should discuss with us the option of finding a place to relocate the market. We shall not afford rent if he builds a shopping mall because we have been paying sh13,500 monthly.
Goretti Nantale, vendor
They have ended our livelihood. I am the one looking after my children and this is where I make a living. I do not think they will spare the market. I do not know where else to go.
Christopher Kiryowa, special hire driver
I have no problem with Basajjabalaba as a businessman, provided he does not interfere with my work.
Janat Namugenyi, trader
The Government should intervene. We can manage this market by ourselves. If they had discussed this matter with us, we would have bought the market even if they demanded that we pay sh10b. We would have developed this place by building flats, leaving the ground floor for the market. This has been the most accessible market.
Abdul Businde, phone technician
I have no problem with Basajjabalaba buying this market provided he considers low-income earners. I would have been very uncomfortable for example if a foreigner was the one who had bought this place.
Abdul Businde, phone technician
I have no problem with Basajjabalaba buying this market provided he considers low-income earners. I would have been very uncomfortable for example if a foreigner was the one who had bought this place.
Betty Sserunjogi, retailer
Since they tendered the
management of this market to Sheila Investments, we have been struggling with garbage.
All they do is collect market dues, which they increase every time. We now pay sh50,000 monthly market dues. We would have done a better job, had they given our association that tender. The Government should help us. Who is this Basajjabalaba causing chaos everywhere? Is it because he has money? And who told KCC that our vendor association could not pay them the sh2b? Let them stop under-looking us.
Issah Kayizzi, butcher man
God brought us here; it is him who will take us away. Some of us came from the village to this market. Unlike those people who have been in business for long, we shall return to the village. But what shall we do there? Coffee no longer fetches a good price and bananas are infested with disease. It must be the government which ‘sold’ us because of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
They do not want Europeans to find a dirty market in the city centre. But governments abroad care about people. They have a downtown where low income earners do business.