By KT Reporter
Over 100 vendors in Kamwenge District have declined to relocate to the newly constructed Kamwenge Central Market, citing a lack of sufficient stalls to accommodate them. The Shs 1.2 billion market, commissioned in January, was built under the NAADS AGRILED program. While it features 24 lockups, vendors argue that they needed open stalls instead, better suited to small-scale traders, particularly those dealing in fresh produce.
Several vendors, speaking anonymously for fear of political backlash, said the old market was more functional than the new one. They say they were promised a modern market with open stalls and a shed, only to find enclosed lockups upon completion. As a result, many have opted to operate from the Kamwenge taxi park or set up makeshift stalls along town roads.
Steven Garasi Kiwanuka, Chairperson of Kamwenge Central Market, confirmed the vendors’ refusal to occupy the facility. “They constructed only 24 lockups, yet the old market had 80 lockups and 48 open stalls, including butcheries. The majority of vendors sell from open stalls, and they were left out,” he noted.
Wilber Mucunguzi, the Town Clerk of Kamwenge Town Council, distanced the urban authority from the controversy, saying the project was implemented by NAADS at the district level and not under the council’s oversight. “I’m new in office and was not involved in the planning or construction process, so I have nothing to add on the matter,” Mucunguzi said.
Venansio Karuhize, Deputy Mayor of Kamwenge Town Council, acknowledged the vendors’ concerns and confirmed the market had deviated from the original plan. He said the facility is too small to accommodate all previous vendors and that its design had been altered. “Originally, the lockups were supposed to face Fort Portal–Kamwenge Road, but now the new structures face a different direction,” he explained. Following consultations with officials from the Ministry of Local Government and NAADS, Karuhize said it was agreed that contingency funds would be used to construct a shed and additional stalls.
He urged authorities to expedite the process so that vendors can relocate and revenue collection can resume, noting that the Town Council is losing out on vital revenue for development. Hanny Turyahebwa, the Chief Administrative Officer of Kamwenge, said the market was handed over to the district despite vendors’ dissatisfaction. “We didn’t want the market to remain idle, so we suggested that temporary stalls be constructed to allow vendors to operate as they wait for the completion of a structure that meets their requirements,” Turyahebwa said.
Kamwenge District Chairperson Joseph Karungi admitted to jurisdictional confusion, noting that the district does not directly manage the urban market. He called on the central government to fast-track necessary changes to facilitate vendor operations.
Stephen Tumwine, the Senior Development Officer at the Ministry of Local Government, told URN that the Kamwenge Central Market project was being implemented in phases under the AGRILED program. “In the first phase, the contractor built lockups, fish stalls, and butcheries. The second phase was supposed to include a shed and open stalls,” he explained.
However, Tumwine said funding for the second phase was diverted to the Parish Development Model, leaving no money for the market’s completion. He revealed that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry has committed to sourcing funds and dispatching engineers to design additional structures. Tumwine also pointed to political interference as a contributing factor to the standoff-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
