Last week, the landowners started erecting structures such as stalls and kiosks and consequently asked interested vendors to reoccupy it which finally led to the resumption of businesses.
‘’This letter serves to inform your office that, we the market vendors are not ready to tolerate re-opening of the former Cereleno Market as we are seeing the structures are being put in place,” reads the vendor’s petition.
Hundreds of vendors in different markets in Gulu City and Nwoya district borrowed loans to start up or boost their business with the hopes of repaying within agreed periods.
The vendors, especially women, argue that the markets they are operating from are unhealthy, insecure and have poor structures, which could make them vulnerable to contracting diseases and falling prey to criminals.
In the letter addressed to Anthony Kilama the market chairperson Opio says that the market authorities contravened the Building Control Act 10 Section 34 which prohibits any person from carrying out a building operation unless he or she has a valid building permit issued by a building committee.
The district coronavirus taskforce and security authorities opened the market on Tuesday on condition that the vendors adhere to social distancing rules, reduce on the number of food vendors and putting in place screening facilities at each entry point.
Nyangkol told URN in an interview at Gulu Central Police Station that Otim was arrested while addressing vendors and youths at Cereleno Market along Ring Road in Pece Division Gulu Municipality.
Concy Aber, a charcoal dealer at Cereleno market in Gulu town attributes the increase in charcoal prices to the reluctance of farmers in the villages to cut down trees.
Paul Kato, a tomato supplier from Wobulenzi told URN in an interview that these middlemen who call themselves giants have blocked them from selling directly to the retailers in Cereleno and Gulu main markets, which is affecting their business.
