Market Vendors at the Kirasa Market in Central
Division Masindi Municipality are protesting the delays by division
Authorities to collect heaps of garbage collected in the middle of the market and the surrounding areas.
The vendors also contend that the general Hygiene in the market is appalling.
Sarah Burungi, a vendor in the market says
due to the presence of the uncollected garbage in the middle of the market,
she has failed to sell any food due to the smell
from uncollected garbage. She said the situation has become unbearable and customers have started shunning their businesses.
According to Birungi the market has only one
garbage skip which is even filled up and has spent close to three weeks without
the division authorities collecting the garbage.
//cue in;”Ntunda ebi ribwa…
Cue out:…Kimutuka niki tabara.”//
Birungi further explains that the only
latrine in the market is filled up with vendors having no option but just to
ease themselves outside the latrine, something she says could fuel an outbreak of
health related diseases such as cholera.
//cue in;”Buli muntu abi…
Cue out:…Bojo e toyi.”//
John Babyenda, another vendor demanded that the municipal authorities should remove the collection point of the garbage from
the middle of the market. He says the Municipality officials have taken long
without collecting garbage from the market, yet vendors pay fees for garbage
collection.
//cue in;”Eku talibaniza muno…
Cue out:…Hagati ya abantu.”//
Joan Katusiime, also a vendor says the
situation becomes unbearable when it rains saying rain water washes the garbage
and dumps it into the market posing a risk to people’s lives. She says a huge
stench has developed near their stalls, leading to health risks there.
Nelson Mandela Bagonza, the Central Division
LC3 Chairperson when contacted for a comment by URN admitted that collection of
garbage is a problem in the whole division. He however faults the vendors for
poor disposal of garbage in the market.
According to Bagonza, they are currently
developing a master plan for garbage collection dubbed the Central Division
Solid Waste Management Master plan that will ensure effective and appropriate dumping
and collection of garbage in the division.
On the latrine situation in the market, Bagonza
says they are to construct a modern toilet that will be availed with running
water. He however does not disclose when this will happen.
