By KT Reporter
Gulu City authorities have officially handed over the construction site for the long-awaited Gulu Modern Market. This marks the beginning of a major infrastructure project expected to transform trade and improve the livelihood of hundreds of refugees.
The handover ceremony took place on Wednesday at the designated market location in Kasubi Central Ward in Layibi-Bardege Division.
The project is funded under the Financing Durable Solutions Initiative for forcibly displaced persons of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) through the Ministry of Local Government.
Christopher Balmoi Omara, the Gulu City Engineer, said the market will have 71 lock-up shops, a day care center, playground, security offices, revenue offices and meeting venues, butcheries, vehicle parking lot, banking hall, pharmacy, charcoal market, bakery, and stall shades.
The market will be constructed in phases, and the first phase will cost 1.4 billion Shillings and is expected to be completed in 8 months.
The facilities to be constructed under the first phase include: 26 lockup shops, a clinic, pharmacy, banking hall, security office, 90 stalls, and butcheries.
Alfred Okwonga, the mayor of Gulu city, stressed that the market was given because of the war that the residents experienced to support those who were displaced in the city, formerly abducted, and refugees.
Okwonga criticised people protesting the construction of the market, saying they could have allocated the money to build a market in any other part of the city, but leaders were considerate because they noticed the division doesn’t have a big institution that can raise revenue.
“I urge you to embrace development wholeheartedly, and I condemn anyone among us here who does not support development. This market is for the poor and vulnerable, for our mothers and youths. If you feel you are already well off, then good for you, but don’t obstruct government and donors from supporting those who are still poor,” Okwonga stressed.
“If there is an issue, we have an office that will receive your complaint, and we will address it amicably,” he added.
Okwonga asked the contractor to follow the policy, which stipulates the use of 70 percent of workers from within, to absorb the hundreds of youths who were trained from the Gulu Industrial Hub.
“We have been to the industrial hub, and the president has sent the coordinator today that whenever there is a contract at our local government, we should employ those who were trained from the industrial hub, so that they can earn something. That is a directive,” Okwonga said.
Ambrose Onoria, the Gulu Resident City Commissioner, said the market is a gift to the people of Gulu City, because the main market has become small.
“The population is becoming bigger every day. People are moving from other districts to come to Gulu City because of its beauty and the good management style,” Onoria said. Onoria, however, appealed to the contractor to construct a high-quality market with enough exits and lighting.
“I will be very disappointed if the market is placed too close to somebody’s wall. You know the main market, one whole side near Holy Rosary is dead because they took the market and put it on somebody’s wall,” Onoria said.
“I want a market whereby if there is a fire, a truck can access any part. I want a market that has enough entrances. I want a market that has enough lighting. We don’t need to have a generator and put on power because the place is dark,” he added.
The site was handed over to Rina One Investment Limited, a Kampala-based construction firm awarded the contract.
Richard Nalima, the Company’s managing director, pledged to source 70 percent of the workers within the city and deliver high-quality work within the set timeline.
“We thank Gulu City for the opportunity. We promise not to let you down, and we promise to do quality work,” Nalima said. Once completed, the market will accommodate more than 720 vendors-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
