A section of vendors in Jinja town has vowed to defy the decision by the minister of local government Adolf Mwesige and appoint a parallel committee to manage Jinja central market.
A section of vendors in Jinja town has vowed to defy the decision by the minister of local government Adolf Mwesige and appoint a parallel committee to manage Jinja central market.
This comes after the minister on Friday reinstated the interim committee led by Jackson Kabuzi which was last month disbanded by the Inspector General of Police Lt Gen Kale Kayihura.
Mwesige first listened attentively to the grievances raised by the vendors during a meeting held at Kakindu Community Centre and later asked vendors to calm down as Kabuzi and his committee oversees the construction of a modern market.
The market was a centre of fracas and blood shed late February after Jinja mayor Hajji Mohammed Baswari Kezaala appointed a parallel committee headed by a one Charles Busulwa and suspended the interim committee of Kabuzi.
The confusion degenerated into fist fights in which Kabuzi and other vendors were injured.
This prompted the IGP Kayihura to intervene by banning all the committees and asked the line minister to address the matter urgently.
Where as the minister’s declaration was welcomed by the pro-Kabuzi faction, the situation is still tense with a section of vendors vowing to disobey it saying they want elections.
Julius Katushabe, one of the vendors says that Kabuzi and his committee were appointed on interim basis to organize free and fair elections within four months which they have failed to do since 2009.
Miriam Namyalo, another vendor says they will erect a parallel office and committee to counter what they regard as an imposed committee.
Mayor Kezaala declined to comment on the declaration by the minister saying he will only intervene if called by vendors in his capacity as the area leader.
