NABBANJA TOURS WANDEGEYA MARKET ORDERS ON LOCKUP REDISTRIBUTION

The Prime Minister Rt Hon Robinah Nabbanja has ordered the fresh redistribution of lockups and stalls in Wandegeya Market.

This was during a tour of the market on Friday morning. The tour followed a meeting between Kampala City leadership and the president at State house on Tuesday where President Museveni advised that markets in Kampala and the metropolitan areas should be owned and managed by the low-income earners instead of being taken by the rich who in turn charge high fees from the wananchi.

“There are people who are calling themselves landlords and are extorting people through exorbitant fees. This is a government market and no one is supposed to be landlord,” Nabbanja said, quoting from the President’s directive.

In the Tuesday State House meeting, attended by several City leaders including Minister for Kampala, KCCA ED, mayor Uhuru and technical staff, the President also tasked Nabbanja, to coordinate city stakeholders so that the government can come up with a conclusive solution to the informal sector and market challenges.

For over 9 years Wandegeya market has been having management problems which has left vendors cheated and mistreated by unlawful landlords.

Nabbanja arrived at Wandegeya market at 10:45am. She toured the entire market from the North to the South Wing, meeting and interacting with vendors.

In the food vending section, Nabajja excited vendors when she took a plate of pilau and ate in full glare of cameras.

Throughout the tour, Nabbanja listened intently to the trader’s grievances, which included being levied exorbitant dues, lack of fairness in the lockup distribution and general cleanliness of the market.

“From today, those of you who have been paying landlords within the market for your spaces, those spaces are now yours. Please apply for them through the formal process,” Nabajja told an excited crowd of vendors after the tour.

“You should also not be charged more than what is stipulated in the law and the MoUs you have signed,” she added.

She asked the vendors to pay the little money for utilities, garbage collection and maintenance of the market.

Wandegeya Market, was constructed by government and commissioned in 2013; it has spaces meant for Banks, Pharmacies and Daycare centers. These spaces have since been altered in usage. Nabanja ordered for their reinstatement to the original use.

She promised to continue monitoring the implementation of these directives to the end and also vowed to extend this crusade to other city markets faced with similar challenges.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs Minsa Kabanda, State Minister for Local Government Victoria Rusoke, and Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi among others.

Others are the KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, Kampala RCC Amina Lukanga, Kawempe Division Mayor Emmanuel Sserunjoji, the Deputy Executive Director Eng David Luyimbazi also attended.

David Luyimbazi praised the Prime Minister for being hands on and finding time to visit the market and listen to the people’s challenges.

“We know there are gaps, and we are here to make sure we listen to the directives and make sure they are implemented,” Luyimbazi said.