KCCA halts garbage collection in Nakasero Market

Jan 11, 2016

In 2012 the market through their umbrella association, Nakasero Market Sitting Vendors And Traders Limited, dragged KCCA to court

KAMPALA Capital City Authority (KCCA) has withdrawn its city garbage collectors from Nakasero Market handing over the responsibility to Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture (NUJV) in a statement issued by the directorate of public health and environment states.

The statement signed by deputy director of public health and environment, James Semuwemba copied to the chairman Nakasero Market Sitting Vendor's and Traders Limited, NUJV, City town clerks and the directorate of legal services states that all garbage will collected by NUJV.

"This is to inform you that KCCA shall stop collecting garbage from Nakasero Market on the 7 January. You are advised immediately to contact and ensure that NUJV collects garbage from your market with effect from 8 January," the letter reads.

The Kampala City Council Solid Waste Management Ordinance 2000 stipulates that all occupants of a commercial premise are responsible for waste generated at those premises until it is collected by the council, its appointed agents licensed by the council.

The ordinance also stipulates the owner is responsible for the sanitary conditions of his premises and the proper placement for collection of all solid waste.

The public relations officer KCCA Peter Kaujju explained that the market leaders will be in position to pay the private company for the duty of collecting garbage adding that KCCA has been investing a lot of money in cleaning the market yet it is run by the market association.

He however could not reveal how much money is spent on garbage collection.

 

What the traders say

Swaibuh Mubiru a trader in the Nakasero market said that some of the traders in the market are stranded with no space to operate their businesses, as garbage was all over the place.

"KCCA is the only organization that can manage garbage collection in the market. They have bigger vehicles that can manage the work," Mubiru explained.

He added that NUJV has smaller trucks and they need to collect garbage several times before they clear the market.

Another trader in the market told New Vision that they are afraid that daily market dues will increase as a result of change in garbage collection management.

"We pay sh1000 and above depending on the areas where one operates his business, we are not ready to pay an extra fee towards garbage collection," she said.

When contacted, the management of NUJV confirmed they had already embarked on collecting garbage from the market.

However by 1pm on Saturday when New Vision visited the market, garbage was plenty and some traders were found clearing their work places to work.

The market management declined to comment on the issue.

In 2012 the market through their umbrella association, Nakasero Market Sitting Vendors And Traders Limited, dragged KCCA to court.

They wanted the High Court in Kampala to issue restraining orders against KCCA and its legal affairs director Mike Okua to stop interfering with their plans to manage and collect revenues for market developments.

They also wanted court to declare that they are in full possession and management of the market.

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