MPONDWE FISHERS’ DEMONSTRATION FLOPS OVER UNCLEAR REASONS

By Alex Baluku

www.mknewslink.com

In Kasese—

A peaceful demonstration that had been organized by the members of
Mpondwe Border Transport Workers’ Service Association yesterday flopped due to unclear reasons.
Yesterday morning, the management of the association ran announcements on
the Kasese based radios informing the public that they would conduct a
peaceful demonstration over the issues related the fish business.
It is alleged that the fish market which used to be on the Ugandan boarder was
temporarily shifted to Kasindi in the Democratic Republic of Congo
following the Covid-19 induced lockdown.
Recently, a delegation from the DR Congo was in Uganda at Vienna
Gardens for a harmonization with their Ugandan counterparts over the
same issue. During the meeting, it was resolved that fish from the
Ugandan waters should be sold at the fish market at Mpondwe border
unless in transit to the DRC.
The Ugandan delegation argued the shifting of the market to Kasindi
had affected local revenue collections at the Mpondwe border market
and according to Selevest Masereka Mapoze; the L. C III Chairperson
for Mpondwe- Lhubiriha Town Council, the urban centre has lost over
shillings 600 million in form of local revenue in a period of close to
two years.
Following the announcement, our reporter rushed to the scene but none
of the organizers was a no-show.
Jackson Kapamba, a concerned political leader in the area told our
reporter that in addition to realizing low local revenue, a good
number of people who would earn a living from the border market have
too been affected.

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