Government pays off USAFI market

Apr 08, 2015

Government has finally paid off Usafi Market at sh.39bn from the manager of SAFINET limited, Omar Nasooro who has been the proprietor.

By Juliet Waiswa

Government has finally paid off Usafi Market at sh.39bn from the manager of SAFINET limited, Omar Nasooro who has been the proprietor.

Yesterday while handing over the property to Kampala Capital City Authority ( KCCA) executive director, Jennifer Musisi, Nasooro said that they have sold the commercial property at the own will without being forced to do so.

“We are handing over this property of 6.18 acres together with the 22 land titles on which the market sits, to KCCA, it has a market, Lock up shops, a taxi park and two police posts, which we expect KCCA to manage,” Omar told hundreds of vendors who turned up to officiate.

Nasooro said that KCCA has already paid him off shs14bn and remaining balance will be paid in the next financial year.

“I have received partial payment from KCCA and I hope to receive my balance in the next financial year,” Nassoro told the press.

Musisi in her address to the traders, told them that government has accepted to pay off the facility and expects traders to operate in the market, she once again warned vendors who are still operating along the streets to occupy stalls in the market, saying that KCCA has been soft with them.

“We have been lenient, with the vendors, but I am warning all those still operating along the streets that police and the enforcement team will deal with you,” she told vendors.

USAFI was constructed in 2013 to cater for people who were vending along streets in Kampala.

Musisi also warned taxi operates who shunned USAFI Taxi Park to operate illegal stages that police and law enforcement officers will also deal with them emphasizing that they should utilize the gazetted parks.

The traders have been involved in wrangles with the proprietor over monthly payments and lack of facilities like toilets, power and water.

The traders have been paying sh.80.000 monthly dues which they said have been too high from them.

The traders also claim that some of the terms and conditions they agreed upon with KCCA and Nassoro have not been followed as they say that money which Nassoro is demanding from them was too much for them.

The size of the stalls has also been made small compared to the initially promised size.

Omar had promised that the market will accommodate 7,500 traders but only 2,000 managed to get stalls in the market

However in her remarks Musisi told the traders that they should pay their monthly rent which will soon be determined by KCCA, emphasizing that once they pay their dues KCCA will be in position to provide services like water, power and security for them.

She also pledged to the vendors that KCCA will modify the market and will also meet the power and water bills inside the market.

The market was valued by the government at approximately sh39.48bn, but KCCA is going to pay off sh.39bn.

Last month Parliament tasked KCCA deputy executive director ,Judith Tumusiime to explain the parliamentary budget committee, as to why KCCA was demanding a supplementary fee of sh7bn for the purchase of t Usafi urging that the amount was not indicated in the 2014/15 national budget.