Kalerwe market vendors, landlord row over market dues

By Juliet Waiswa                                          

Over 150 vendors in St. Kizito market operating along Gayaza-Kalerwe road are likely to lose their stalls if they  fail to remit market dues to the landlord, Deborah Namutebi, to enable her meet her Kampala Capital City Authority(KCCA) revenue.

Namutebi says that she has lost close to sh100m as the vendors have failed to pay her for the last seven months.

She claims that she owns the land where St. Kizito market is located and also wants the vendors to vacate to pave way for development.

She alleges that due political interference in the market  operations, vendors claim that they cannot pay her, alleging that the market belongs to government.

Namutebi told the press that she discussed with Kampala Resident District Commissioner Mpimbaza Hashaka on the issues of redeveloping the market.

When contacted, Mpimbaza said that his office met with the vendors and told them that they should let Namutebi develop her land. He also confirmed that the matter is before the office of the Administrator General’s office.

“I want to set up modern structures for the traders but I have failed as the traders have sent me threatening messages, like "we shall  call the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago to throw you out with your son,” she said.

She says that she inherited the market in 1983 after the death of  her father, Stanley Kizito. She claims to be the heiress and only child.

“We have no problem with Namutebi and we as her tenants we want development in the market. If she says that she wants her land we are ready to shift but government should fulfill its promise to the traders,” the chairman of Kalerwe Market Traders and Traders Association, Damulira Salm, said.