By Gorette Kajumba
www.mknewslink.com
In Fort Portal—
The Minister of Local Government, Hon. Balaama Barugahare, has given Fort Portal City authorities two weeks to complete urgent works at Kabundaire Market, including garbage clearance, drainage, sanitation and improvement of trading spaces.
The directive follows growing concerns from market vendors over poor working conditions after they were temporarily relocated to pave the way for rehabilitation works.
Fort Portal Central Division Mayor, Bintamanya Jorum, said the minister visited the market in July and directed the authorities to clear the accumulated garbage, construct a latrine and improve the market stalls.
He said some of the works are already underway, but vendors temporarily operating outside the market continue to face harsh conditions, including exposure to sunshine and rain.
Bintamanya also revealed that the State Minister for Urban Development, Hon. Margaret Muhanga, had lobbied for 2 billion shillings to support the rehabilitation of Kabundaire Market, although he appealed for additional funding.
Fort Portal City Mayor, Rev. Willy Kintu Muhanga, said city leaders are implementing the directives given by the minister rather than sitting back and waiting.
He said the city council had also resolved to roof the market to protect vendors from rain and sunshine.
According to Muhanga, the council has further agreed with vendors to gradually move back to the old market site while rehabilitation works continue.
He added that market management has measured and allocated trading spaces to individual vendors as the city works towards finding a permanent solution to the challenges at the market.
Muhanga stressed that accountability will be critical in the management of funds allocated to the market.
However, some market vendors expressed dissatisfaction with the way trading spaces are being allocated, saying the process has not been fair to all vendors.
They also urged the minister to ensure that rehabilitation works are completed urgently, citing the poor conditions in their temporary trading area.
Some vendors said they would be willing to construct their own stalls if given permission by the city authorities, instead of waiting for projects that could take years to complete.
Meanwhile, the market management appealed to the minister to provide adequate security to ensure that trading spaces are allocated fairly and prevent individuals who were not previously operating at the market from taking over stalls.
The market has 676 registered vendors, of whom 485 have already been allocated stalls, while 191 vendors are yet to receive trading spaces.
Fort Portal City Clerk, Nyamigo Francis, said the city is currently working on drainage and has also engaged Uganda Baati to supply 1,500 iron sheets for roofing the market.
The Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Balaama Barugahare, advised city authorities to adopt a system of identifying quality murram from suppliers, purchasing it for several years where possible, and submitting samples to the Ministry of Works for accreditation.
Balaama further directed the city council to allow vendors willing to construct their own stalls to do so and give them a two-month revenue holiday to support the initiative.
He, however, gave the city authorities two weeks to complete the outstanding works at the market.
After the visit to Kabundaire Market, Minister Balaama proceeded to Karuzika Palace, where he paid his last respects to the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
He was escorted to the palace by a procession of Kabundaire Market vendors.