Vendors at the newly occupied Busega Market have called on the government to halt Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) management of the market for at least one year. This plea aims to give the vendors and their current leadership a chance to stabilize operations and address existing wrangles while improving their profits.
The vendors aired their grievances during a visit by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Hon. Betty Kamya.
Vendors had initially refused to occupy the market, opting to sell their goods by the roadside, citing concerns over management and unfair treatment.
The vendors claim KCCA officials mistreat them by imposing multiple taxes and collecting money without issuing receipts. They also accused KCCA of selling market shops illegally, a practice they argue is against market regulations.
“We have just entered the market, and there are still many unresolved wrangles. KCCA’s involvement at this point will only make it harder for us to make reasonable profits,” said Charles Bugembe, the market chairperson.
Hon. Kamya expressed concern over the allegations and promised to investigate claims that KCCA’s management practices are fueling conflicts in the market. She assured the vendors that their grievances would be presented to President Yoweri Museveni.
She observed that vendors have lost trust in KCCA and promised to conduct a thorough investigation to understand the root cause. She urged the vendors to remain calm, assuring them that their concerns will be addressed.
“As the Inspector General of Government, my mandate is to investigate the situation, identify the necessary steps to restore order, and hold accountable those responsible for any misconduct,” she said.
Hajji Kitatta, whom the vendors regard as their savior for mediating the move to the market, urged the government to let the vendors run the market for one year.
He called for statehouse intervention proposing that Busega Market should be placed under State House management, supervised by the Anti-Corruption Unit, to ensure transparency and improve vendor livelihoods.
“Making Busega Market a model market under State House will guarantee proper supervision and help us grow our businesses,” Kitatta stated.
Faridah Nakabugo, a leader in Busega, called on KCCA to grant vendors a grace period to stabilize before imposing taxes.
“KCCA should prioritize creating access routes to the market over collecting money from vendors who have only recently moved into the new facility.” She said.
A KCCA official dismissed allegations that its staff demand money to allocate working spaces in the market. She emphasized that no KCCA official should register a vendor without providing proper documentation from the authority.
The vendors also urged the government to create additional access routes to the market, particularly for those using the Northern Bypass. They noted that the lack of sufficient entry points has led to a significant loss of customers.
