Carrying placards, the fresh fish vendors have accused the city council authorities of keeping a deaf ear and ignoring their pleas to have the rental fees reduced from 100,000 to 50,000 shillings.
Fresh fish
vendors in Mbarara Central Market have protested against the high rental fees.
This was during a meeting with Members of
Parliament on the Public service and local governments committee. The MPs are on an oversight tour of the 12 Markets constructed under
the Markets Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme project phase 2 (MATIP2).
The fish
vendors, who pay a monthly rental fee of 100,000 Shillings, argue that the
amount is too high given their low-income status. Carrying placards,
the fresh fish vendors accused the city council authorities of keeping a
deaf ear and ignoring their pleas to have the rental fees reduced to 50,000 shillings.
Crish
Rugemwa, the General Publicity Mbarara Central Market accused the council leadership
of not consulting them when they were setting the fees. He also
accused the leadership of charging different fees. They said those selling fresh fish are charged 100,000 Shillings and those dealing in dry fish pay
30,000 Shillings.
//Cue in: “lord
mayor omukuru…
Cue out: …esatu
nadda ewaka.”//
Hawah Kiribedda
fresh fish vendor said that the exorbitant charges that include utility fees levied
on them are driving them out of the market.
Asse
Abireebe Tumwesigire the City Town Clerk said that the charges were agreed by the council after consulting the market leadership. He however said that he would meet the vendors on the matter.
Emmanuel
Muhumuza, the chairperson of the market, criticized the city authorities for
ignoring the concerns of fish vendors. He called for an
amicable resolution through a meeting.
Jimmy Lwanga,
the Member of Parliament for Njeru Municipality and the Acting Chairperson of
the committee calmed the vendors and asked the city leadership to meet the vendors and resolve the matter.
