While commissioning the new market, the Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi said that the market belonged to Mbarara City Council and not the Kiosk Owners Association.
A section of
vendors under the Mbarara Central Market Kiosk Owners Association want the
allocation of stalls and lockups in the new market halted until the court case
is disposed of.
The wrangle
between the then Mbarara municipality and traders over the ownership of Mbarara
central market started in 2014 affecting plans to redevelop it. The
situation worsened after Mbarara municipal council acquired a title for
plot 2-4 along Mbaguta Street, which hosts the market.
As a result, kiosk owners successfully petitioned the High Court and placed a caveat
on the land.
But while commissioning the new market, the Local Government Minister Raphael
Magyezi said that the market belonged to Mbarara City Council and not the Kiosk
Owners Association.
Joy Night Mpiirwe, Chairperson of the aggrieved Kiosk Owners says they were
allocated land to construct Kiosks by the then Mbarara Municipal Council in
1989 and were fully given the powers as bonafide occupants on the same land.
//Cue in: “when the 1995…
Cue out: …we
went out.”//
She says they want the process of relocating to the new market halted until the
case is disposed of and an agreement is reached.
//Cue in:
“here we are…
Cue out:
…our market peacefully.”//
Mpiirwe says
they were shifted to the independence park as Kiosk owners and want to return
as Lockup owners in the new market as per the agreement they had with the government in 2018.
//Cue in:
“program ya government…
Cue out: …eky tikuhenda mateeka.”//
Ndabatata
Ngabirano, Secretary of Mbarara Central Market Kiosk Owners Association Ltd says
they applied in 1983 to get space, a request that was approved by the municipal
council in 1989.
//Cue in:
“obuduka obu okutwabire
Cue out:
…orikwend kukoreramu.”//
Muhammed
Nyombi the Chairperson of the Central Market Vendors Association says the
matter is being handled by the City Council authorities.
Robert
Mugabe Kakyebezi the City Mayor said he is ready to sit with the aggrieved vendors
if they agree to settle the case out of court.
Allocation
of lockups/stalls to the vendors is scheduled to start on April 11.
