Kenneth Ayebare, the Chairman of Uganda Cargo Consolidators Association, a group of logistics companies that transport for smaller or group importers, says business has recently gone down. They suspect some importers are holding onto their money until they are sure of the business environment.
Richard Mavuma, the Nakaseke District Secretary for Finance says that the plans were thwarted when the Uganda Road Fund scaled-down funding to Local governments. Mavuma made reference to a circular issued on May 11, 2020, indicating that the Road Find will not make financial releases for the fourth quarter.
Uncorroborated reports also indicate that some traders are escorted by police and other armed personnel to Beni in DRC. Last month, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ordered the closure of all borders and the airports with exception of cargo trucks to contain the spread of COVID19.
The traders who usually travel from various parts of the District were repealed by police led by the Kasese District Police Commander Dickens Okello following the president’s directive banning public gatherings as one of the preventive measures against corona virus.
Southern Division Authorities have increased annual dues to 100 percent. However, the traders under their Umbrella Marumba Traders Association have opposed the increment and have accused the authorities for not consulting them.
The traders accused the authorities for carrying out the registration exercise without involving the leadership of the market and failing to share with them the Memorandum of Understanding and market designs for scrutiny.
Christine Nanyojjo, a dealer of bananas, says she stocked bananas hoping to make a kill but didnt realize her dream. She blames the low sales on the biting poverty in the country.
Kanaginagi says in the new initiative, traders will pay the money in banks or wire it on mobile money as per the telephone number they will be given. This means parish chiefs will not handle any revenue from traders.
Traders in Mbarara Central Market are supposed to each pay a monthly due of 30,000 Shillings. However, they have not made payments since last year, following their relocation from a gazetted marketplace to Mbarara Independence Park.
Traders operating along Garage Street Market in Kabale Municipality are protesting the appalling state of the market. The market, commonly known as Owino, operates daily with several merchandise including, clothes, shoes fresh and dry foods and charcoal among other commodities. The traders claim that the markets roof is very old and leaks whenever it rains. As a result, they lose their fresh produce which they leave on the stalls.
Christine Kabakama, a vendor at Kabundaire Market says the smell from the garbage poses a risk as it can lead to outbreak of diseases that are associated with poor sanitation.
Scovia Ayebare, another trader accuses the market leadership of introducing security fees without consulting them. According to Ayebare, the responsibility of providing security at the market lies squarely with the municipality.
Fort Portal Municipal Council has started installing solar powered street lights in the town. The Shillings 70 million project started last week in different parts of the municipality.
Mohamed Nyombi, the chairperson of Mbarara Central Market Traders Association, who is accused of conniving with the municipal authorities to cheat vendors, admits they collected money for erecting temporary stalls.
Robert Kakyebezi, the Mayor Mbarara Municipality denies claims that traders have been left in the dark, saying they consulted them before taking any step on the new project.
Teddyson Niwagaba, the Kamwezi Sub County Chairperson, says they have repeatedly advocated for the upgrade of the market by the district in vain. According to Niwagaba, they want the district to put up new structures in the market.
The fire left more than 50 traders counting losses. Robert Kalista, one of the traders says that all their merchandise which included among others sacks of groundnuts, beans and millet flour was burnt. He says the fire started at about 9:30am.
About 200 traders under their umbrella, Kabale Central Market Traders Association, claim that power was disconnected three years ago, after the municipal council failed to pay the bills that had accumulated up to 1.8 million shillings.
