Business community urged to demand govt support

By Doreen Musingo

JINJA - The business community from Jinja district has been asked to demand for projects that can help them improve on their businesses and also contribute to the economy of the municipality.

Josephine Nyokabi Mwangi, the division manger OSAN.1 (north, east and south regions) under the African Development Bank (ADB) explained that they support friend countries according to the demands of the natives so that they are able to improve on their lives.

“We support friend countries through the demands of their people. We have to task their governments to consult them to find out their pressing demands so that we are able to support them,” Mwangi said.

Joseph Ssenabulya, the market master (right) leads Mwangi (in glasses) in the foods section. PHOTO/Doreen Musingo

Mwangi, who was on Tuesday touring the newly constructed market with support from the ADB, cautioned vendors to request government for more developmental programs that will be supported by ADB.

Mwangi was flanked by Muhammad Kezaala Baswari the Jinja mayor and David Kyasanku the town clerk.

“Once the construction work was finished,we handed over the market to government. Am here to assess the impact of the market to the vendors because we work towards a purpose to see that all vendors are relocated in the premises,” Mwangi said adding that the new market has additional space for more vendors to operate in.

Mwangi (with glasses) listens to a fish vendors in Jinja central market. PHOTO/Doreen Musingo

Mwangi said as ADB they were impressed the market is decent, occupied by happy people while business was booming. She said said complaints about construction works in the market should be handled promptly.

Jinja central market which was launched by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni last year was constructed under the Markets and Agricultural Improvement Program (MATIP) 1 project at a cost of sh28b.

“Much credit goes to the vendors of the market who demanded government for the construction of the market, I can see people are now happy and working from a clean surrounding as per our minimum set standards,” she said.

Mwangi added that ADB was committed to assisting countries that ask for their support and called for mutual understanding with the partner countries.

Yasin Sendaula, the acting commissioner Urban Inspection from the ministry of local government, said Jinja central market was among the seven pilot projects under MATIP 1.

Sendaula said they are planning to construct two new markets in Jinja district which include Napier and Bugembe markets. He said Jinja central market was congested while some vendors work in the walkways others work from parking spaces.

“We are in the process of securing funding for Napier and Bugembe markets so that some of the vendors are transferred to those new markets,” he said.

However when asked about the reconstruction of Ambercourt market, he noted that they will first send a team of surveyors to verify the ownership where the old market is located.