MBARARA CENTRAL MARKET VENDORS, CITY COUNCIL LOCK HORNS OVER RENT

By Aggrey Twesigye
www.mknewslink.com
In Mbarara—-

Mbarara central market vendors on Friday stormed out of a consultative meeting called by Mbarara City council to introduce them rent charges levied on every facility in the redeveloped market.

It should be noted that the minister for local government Raphael Magyezi had given vendors a grace period of two months prior to the opening of the redeveloped market in June, 2022, the period which elapsed in September, 2022.

As a result Mbarara city council councilors passed a council resolution introducing moderate rent charges per facility in the redeveloped market. From the council resolution double lock ups were to pay shs.250, 000 per month, Single lockups shs.125000 per month, a restaurant shs.300.000 per month, Day care Shs.100.000 per month and stalls shs.30.000 per month.

However, Vendors have rejected the charges saying they are exorbitant.

Nyombi Muhammad the former chairman Mbarara central market vendors Association faulted the interim leadership of the market for failure to involve vendors in the process of imposing rent charges as per vendors Registration And Resettlement Guidelines article7(C) which accords the vendors the right to pay monthly rent or any other amicably agreed fees to the market authority.

Brian Arinaitwe a vendor dealing in fruits faulted the city leadership for failure to carry out assessment of vendors before introducing the rent charges.

Robert Kakyebezi the Mbarara city mayor noted that vendors must pay rent charges as levied per facility so as to get funds to pay utility providers such as Water and UMEME.

Richard Mugisha the deputy city clerk Mbarara said the rates are not static, however in future they can be revised depending on the situation.

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