Job opportunities in the new year
President Yoweri Museveni (in hat) at the opening of the market last year. FILE PHOTO
With the shopping trends in the country tilting from informal places such as roadside markets to formal places like closed markets and hyper shops, more opportunities also come in the way of those seeking new ventures.
The many emerging supermarkets and arcades or shopping malls, are some of the trending shopping places in the country. However, with the government redeveloping the existing markets into modern markets, it is expected that the trend will attract shoppers from all walks of life.
Under the Markets and Agricultural Improvement Project (MAIP), the government intends to construct 21 markets countrywide estimated to create employment for more than 2.5 million people in both informal and formal sectors. Markets up for redevelopment in Kampala include Wandegeya, Kananga, Ntinda, Busega, and Kasubi with some ready for the vendors.
Available opportunities
In an interview recently, Mr Peter Kaujju the Kampala Capital City Authority spokesperson, said since Wandegeya Market was ready, there are spaces for rent to potential young people with plans to work there.
He said people should come go to City Hall and register for stalls and lockups. “There are many that are going for public auctioning,” he explained.
Stalls at the market will go for between Shs40,000 and shs100,000, whereas lockups will go for between Shs75, 000 and Shs300,000 per month.
“These spaces are subsidised. I recommend that youth take this opportunity to grab spaces because the market is strategically located and can be shared for those starting businesses,” he said.
Since its inception, KCCA has vowed not to allow any person operating on Kampala streets. This means that people should either occupy the spaces in the open markets or utilise the shopping arcades and malls.
The latter, however, are costly to manage as they are expensive to rent. But for such modernised markets like Wandegeya graduates with capital can manage it.
The requirements for one to be allocated a space in the market are a valid identity card and the initial payments for the first months, once the market is opened for business.
Mr Kaujju noted that a three-month grace period will be granted to all traders who will be operating in the market to allow them settle and monitor business progresses.
Possible businesses
Salons, boutiques, photo studios and music libraries, groceries, bookshops, cafes and restaurants, since the market is located near Makerere universities.
