Hoima Hardware market that accommodates mostly traders dealing in second hand clothes was closed on March,17,2020 by security operatives in conjunction with Hoima Municipal authorities after the traders failed to comply with the guidelines issued by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to guard against the deadly COVID-19 Pandemic.
More than
1000 Traders in Hoima Under their Umbrella, Hoima Hardware Markert Traders
Association have petitioned the office of the Hoima Resident District
Commissioner-RDC demanding for the immediate re-opening of the Hoima Hardware
Market.
The Hoima
Hardware market that accommodates mostly traders dealing in second hand clothes
was closed on March,17,2020 by security operatives in conjunction with Hoima
Municipal authorities.
The market
was closed following a directive by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to guard
against the speard of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
At the time
it was closed, the market had no hand washing facilities put in place and the
traders were not observing the social distancing strategy put in place by the
government to combat COVID-19.
According to
the traders, ever since the market was closed, life has become unbearable for
them since they entirely depend on the market for survival.
The traders
contend that whereas other hand to mouth income earners whose businesses were
closed due to COVID-19 were accorded a special attention and given relief food,
they were not considered to date something that has made life difficult.
They say
they have now spent close to three months without working adding that they have
spent all the capital they had a situation that could compel them forcefully
get on the street to resume business.
Vicent
Sseguya, the Chairperson Hoima Hardware Market Association has appealed to the
office of president to immediately intervene and rescue the situation.
He says that
they are ready to comply and respect all the guidelines issued by the president
in fighting COVID-19 like compulsory wearing of face masks, installing hand
washing facilities and observing social distance while at the market.
//cue
in;”Ensonga enkuru tuli…
Cue
out:….Naba mobile traders.”//
Juliet
Ahebwa, a vendor in the Market says she has completely failed to look after her
three children since the only money she had saved got finished during the three
months she spent not working.
Samuel
Kisembo, the Hoima Resident District Commissioner says as security committee
they are yet to sit and forge a solution to the Trader’s petition.
He further
revealed that they will first engage the top management of the market before any
other step can be taken.