The vendors who deal in food items and snacks were given a notice to peacefully vacate from the said premises in July and occupy spaces allocated to them in the main market. However, they ignored the directive, until the police rounded off the taxi park and directed them to vacate but, they instead retaliated by pelting stones at law enforcement enforces.
The vendors note that since most commodities are scattered along the different streets within Jinja town, most people prefer buying from the street vendors instead of wasting their time to enter the shops or market.
Umar Musoke, one of the vendors who lost properties in the fire, says that they heard a big blast from the neighbouring kiosk, prompting all vendors to converge in the fire assembly point. He adds that not much was saved as they fled to save their dear lives from the flames which destroyed food items, beverages and electronics.
This followed the issuance of election guidelines for the market leadership by the municipal authorities on Thursday. According to the guidelines, the incumbent market chairman is meant to hand over office to the Principal Assistant Town Clerk, within three days, in preparation for the elections scheduled to take place in two months.
The fire destroyed more than 30 stalls and 25 kiosks. The items destroyed include wooden stalls, fridges, and groceries like 80 bags of posho, 150 bags of rice, fruits and vegetables, among others.
The duo was picked up on Saturday morning and locked up at Jinja central police station. They were allegedly found masquerading as UPDF officers attached to the Fisheries Protection Unit while soliciting money from fishmongers in Bugembe market.
Museveni said traders should pardon him for abandoning them, but hastened to argue that they should also ask to be pardoned since they were the first to abandon him when Uganda opened the curtains for elective politics in 1996.
Some of the items on display during the three day event included caps, t-shirts, sandals, drinks and Rolex. The vendors paid rent to Nile Discovery Resort Beach management and owners of the spaces they were operating from.
