The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Tororo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Vendors in Tororo who have missed out on stalls in the new market are angry, and have protested to municipal officials.
Allocation of stalls in the new market ended on Wednesday, but more than 1,000 vendors realized that their names had been deleted from the list.
On Friday, the disgruntled vendors stormed Tororo municipal council offices demanding explanations as to why they were not allocated space.
Steven Johnson Papakanyang, who was operating a hardware shop in the old market, says that he was shocked to find his name missing from the list. Papakanyang is worried that he will be kicked out of business if the municipal authorities do not find him an alternative place in the market.
Lydia Karungi, a Senior Community Development Officer at the Ministry of Local government in charge of relocation said the Ministry of Local Government team will compile a report for the entire relocation exercise.
The Tororo Municipal Council Town Clerk Paul Omoko notes that over 3,000 vendors were registered before the construction of the market. He adds that 1,900 lock-ups were already allocated to specific vendors, a problem he blames on those who registered vendors before he was posted in Tororo.
He however says that they will wait for the report from the Ministry of Local Government.
Tororo Central Market is one of the 12 markets that have been constructed under the markets and Agricultural Trade improvement Programme (MATIP-2), at 27.7 billion.
The market sits on 5 acres of land and comprises market stalls, lockups/shops, pitches, daycare centres, food courts, Clinic/pharmacy facilities and a conference hall.
****
URN
