On Monday, Tumwesigye re-echoed to Uganda Radio Network in an interview that they will not relent on the new directive that seeks to ensure traders utilize the available designated business spaces.
Just four days after Gulu City council authorities launched a mass eviction of individuals conducting businesses in ungazetted
spaces, normalcy appears to have returned on the major streets within the city
center and the Main Market.
Pedestrian walkways and pavements on major streets of Acholi lane, Bank lane, Awere Road, Cemetery Road, and Gulu Highway that had been turned into business arenas and bus stops have since been vacated.
This follows the eviction of hundreds of street vendors, and roadside transporters on Friday last week. The traders were evicted by Gulu City law enforcement personnel backed by UPDF
soldiers in a move aimed at restoring trade order.
The eviction stems from a
directive issued by the Gulu City Clerk, Isiah Tumwesigye last week banning businesses
along the streets, pavements, walkways, verandahs, backstreets, and corridors
within the city effective July 1, 2022.
On Monday, Tumwesigye re-echoed to Uganda Radio Network in an interview that they will not relent on the
new directive that seeks to ensure traders utilize the available designated business
spaces.
He says any trader who will return to the
streets will have their goods impounded and be arrested and prosecuted in
courts of law.
//cue in: “This was just…
Cue out:…town looks clear.”//
According to Tumwesigye, there
are enough taxi and bus parks, shops, and designated markets that can accommodate
the majority of the evicted individuals yet they choose to work from the streets.
//cue in: “we have enough…
Cue out:…on the road.”//
He says whereas the
implementation is just days old, they won’t back down on their decision and
downplayed claims that the eviction will be short-lived like other past threats
issued. Gulu City council has issued numerous threats in the past seeking to wipe out roadside businesses on grounds that it was affecting revenue collection and breeding insecurity.
Despite
dozens of eviction exercises, the implementation hasn't been consistent on unclear grounds. Andrew Ogwetta Otto, the Pece-Laroo
Division Councilor in Gulu City believes that the current eviction is not sustainable
since there is no clear plan taken by the city authorities to enforce it for a
longer duration.
Ogwetta says the city councilors
were not consulted on the move to evict the traders and notes that there is
limited enforcement personnel on the ground who won’t be able to cover the vast
city center during implementation. He says that the unplanned
eviction is sparking outrage from the affected people arguing that the implementers
will succumb to their pressure soon.
//cue in: “once we had…
Cue out:…this trade order.”//
But Tumesigye notes that they
have enough resources and manpower to implement the directive, adding that they also
intend to employ more enforcement officers.
//cue: “we have the…
Cue out:…town like this.”//
Robert Komakech, the Bardege-Layibi
Division speaker however notes that for the new trade order to be effective,
the city council authorities must ensure they provide reliable solar lighting
to vendors at Gulu Main Market.
Koamech says vendors who occupy the basement of
the market have avoided the space due to darkness on days when there is an electricity
blackout. “If the power issues are not
addressed at the basement, then vendors will continue to sell outside the
market because it’s dark when there is no electricity,” He says.
The eviction has generated mixed reactions among those affected and some of the market leaders in the
city. Beatrice Atim, who was dealing in second-hand clothes is among hundreds
of vendors evicted from the parking space outside the Gulu Main Market
last week.
Atim says for four days since the eviction, she has failed to get
space for business arguing that the decision has affected her earnings. Eric Otim, a second-hand shoe
dealer, who was also evicted from the Gulu Main Market parking lot, says the decision
was conducted hurriedly without giving them ample time to find alternative
business space.
He notes that the markets being suggested by city
officials are fully occupied while others are in remote locations unfavorable
for businesses. But Nixon Komakech, the Principal
Commercial Officer in Gulu City says the eviction exercise serves as an advantage for the
city council in terms of revenue collection.
He says the city council used to
collect between 52 to 56 million shillings monthly as revenue from Gulu Main
Market due to the low numbers of vendors occupying the lockups and stalls. Komakech says they are hopeful that
the revenue collection may rise up to 89 million shillings monthly once the
space is fully occupied as most vendors are returning to the market.
UPDF soldiers deployed on the
directives of the Gulu Resident City Commissioner have maintained a heavy
presence in all spots previously occupied by street vendors in a bid to enforce
the new trade order. The city council authorities have
since directed the affected vendors and roadside transporters to occupy business
spaces at Gulu Main Market, Kabedopong Market, Wilobo Market, Layibi Central
Market, Lamogi ber bus terminal, Gulu Main bus park, and the new terminal at
the former Abattoir.
