City market vendors petition KCCA boss over Museveni's directive

MARKET VENDORS | KCCA 

A section of traders from St. Balikuddembe market commonly known as Owino, Nakasero, Wandegeya, and Kisekka markets, respectively, have petitioned the Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority, Dorothy Kisaka, over the delayed implementation of the recent presidential directive on city markets and abattoirs.

In his directive, the president asked the minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, to ensure that the government takes over all the city markets and abattoirs following the outcry of the ordinary vendors from these respective markets.

Led by, Joseph Lwanga and Susan Kushaba, the vendors told the KCCA chief that their wounds healed when the president directed the markets to be taken over by the government rather than leaving them in the hands of the old management and associations.

"We have suffered enough under these people, they Confiscate our property, subjecting us to double taxation, harassment, forceful collection of taxes with the assistance of hired muscular bouncers (Kanyama)," they said. 

In their petition, vendors also called upon KCCA to re-echo their voice so that the government deploys the army in their markets to guarantee their safety instead of police which they said was compromised by the current market leaders and their associates.

The petition also indicates that the current market leadership and associations have for so many years been collecting dues but they cannot account for any money.

"We request that a commission of inquiry be instituted so that we know how, and where these self-imposed leaders keep the money they have collected from us for all these years," part of their petition read.

Vendors also demand that once KCCA takes over the leadership of these markets on behalf of the government, they should install Yaka meters to enable them to manage the power bills and water themselves to avoid exploitation.

"A unit of power is sold to us at a price of sh880 yet the UMEME sells it at sh750."

The vendors also asked Kisaka, to halt two of her deputies; Harriet Mudondo and one Dr Galukande from indulging themselves in their issues, alleging that these two have been conspiring with the current leadership to mistreat them.

In her own words, Kisaka urged the vendors to keep calm as they handle their grievances.

"As you may be aware, we are in very critical moments but I can assure you that my office and other stakeholders including the Ministers for Kampala, are working around the clock to harmonise the implementation of the president's directives on markets," she said.

However, it alleged that most of the said markets were sold off to private individuals who later registered them under private companies.

This, therefore, makes it difficult to implement the presidential directive, unless the government negotiates with the current owners and buys them back into their control.