RUKUNGIRI CENTRAL MARKET VENDORS DEFY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE OF SLEEPING AT WORK PLACE

By Ronald Kabanza
www.mknewslink.com
In Rukungiri

Food vendors in Rukungiri central market in Western division Rukungiri municipality have defied the directives by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on preventing the spread of Corona virus pandemic.
While addressing the country Late last month, President Museveni asked market vendors dealing in food items to camp and sleep in the markets for 14 days or stay home if they cannot follow his directive.
He also ordered that there should be spacing of 4 meters on all sides for both the buyer and the seller
However, www.mknewslink.com reporter visited the market and it was established that traders in the market are not sleeping in the market neither are they following the 4-meter social distance guideline.
www.mknewslink.com reporter observed that the vendors remained congested since many people can assemble in one stall while buying.
Fred Mugazi, the central market chairperson told our reporter that they cannot sleep in the market since space is not enough for them to spend nights arguing that even the sanitary facilities are in poor conditions.
“We can’t sleep in the market because it is so small to accommodate all of us and worse of it, the sanitary facilities are in poor conditions to be used by vendors day and night” Mugazi noted.
Mugazi added that sleeping in the market may cause outbreak of another diseases as a result of poor sanitary conditions.
Rukungiri District health officer, Dr. Akasima Mucunguzi, however said that vendors who fail to adhere to 4-meter social distancing guideline are putting themselves and their buyers at risk of contracting COVID-19.
Dr .Akasima said that he is going to take up the matter with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the vendors adhere to the preventive measures put in place.
However, the Rukungiri Resident District Commissioner Dan Kaguta claimed that all vendors operating in the central market are residents of Rukungiri town therefore it becomes difficult for them to sleep in the market.
“Vendors in Rukungiri central market are all residents of Rukungiri town so it is of no use to sleep on their stalls” Kaguta added.
Kaguta also said they will only consider closing the market when the number of vendors and their buyers become overcrowded.

www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106