Bukedea Town Council repossessed the Bukedea weekly cattle market following the tenderer’s failure to remit the revenue arrears of over 216 million shillings for the financial year 2025/2026. The district had set a deadline of two months, from July to August, for the Orongat Contractors and Vendors Association to settle their debts or vacate the market premises. The association was to remain the tenderer only upon fulfilling their financial obligations.
However, as of August 25, there had been no payments made, prompting the council to consider taking control of the market and temporarily allocating it to another tenderer while they conduct a vetting process for a new contractor. The tenderer has had a long-standing feud with the town council authorities due to repeated failures to clear the market revenue on a yearly basis.
It has been alleged that the tenderer keeps changing the names of the contractors to evade paying the arrears. In two letters issued on August 18 and 21, Chief Administrative Officer for Bukedea District, Andrew Milton Kamalingin Chelengat, notified Orongat about their obligations to clear the dues as agreed.
“As you’re fully aware, you signed a payment plan for the settlement of unpaid revenue arrears for the financial year 2025/2026 and rent for Bukedea cattle market for the months of July and August. To date, you have breached the contractual and payment plan obligations agreed upon in the rent and management of Bukedea cattle market, and yet you continue to collect revenue from the market,” the letter reads.
The correspondence further directed that the tenderer vacates the market due to the failure to adhere to the agreement. “You and your associate members should vacate the market and cease operating as revenue collectors if no payment is realized. All funds accruing to Bukedea Town Council must be paid; otherwise, you will be severally responsible for making good the debt,” it states.
Chelengat also threatened legal action against the Orongat tenderer: “Legal action shall be instituted against you without any further delay if the revenue arrears are not cleared.” He directed the town council authorities to take over the market with immediate effect.
Sam Okimat, the Chairperson of Orongat, noted that the association has not refused to pay the revenue arrears to the town council, but the delays are attributed to the challenges they are currently facing.
“I cannot refuse to pay what I already committed to and accepted on paper that it will be paid. Whether I remain in the market or not, what belongs to the government will be paid,” Okimat stated. The market has now been seized by the town council authorities, who have begun their operations as they vet for a new tenderer-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
