Kiosk owners block market works
Stalled. The vacant market plot on Mbaguta and Buremba streets in Mbarara Town. The reconstruction of the market has stalled following row over ownership of the land. PHOTO BY ALFRED TUMUSHABE
What you need to know:
- The injunction was granted on February 15, but on March 3, the same court cancelled it after council appealed against the order.
- Mr Moses Turyaramya, the vice chairman of the association, on Tuesday said they are not against development but their interests have to be taken care of as well.
Members of the Mbarara Central Market Kiosk Owners Association, have blocked reconstruction of Mbarara Central Market, officials have said.
The reconstruction of the market has not started five months after many old structures were brought down in a move to pave way for the works.
About 700 vendors relocated to Mbarara Independence Park. The market is to be built on plot 2-4 on Mbaguta Street.
Some kiosk owners claiming ownership of part of the market land have however refused to vacate and are operating their businesses normally.
The reconstruction is funded by African Development Bank (ADB) at a tune of Shs23 billion under Markets and Trade Agriculture Improvement Programme (MATIP) II.
The principal commercial officer, Mr James Agaba, told Daily Monitor recently that they moved the market occupants following instructions of the central government.
“We had instructions from Ministry of Local Government to clear the site. They are looking for the contractor. The ministry submitted evaluation report to ADB; they are waiting for response,” Mr Agaba said.
The Mbarara town clerk, Mr Edward Lwanga, and mayor Robert Kakyebezi, said a section of traders under the association claiming ownership of the land have blocked the reconstruction.
They put a caveat on the market land after learning that council had also acquired title for the same land.
The group in 2014 lodged a suit of trespass and fraud against the council in high court. To further push council away from the land in 2016 the kiosk owners applied for a temporary injunction of no eviction or demolition of the market until hearing and determination of the main suit.
The injunction was granted on February 15, but on March 3, the same court cancelled it after council appealed against the order.
Further hearing of the main suit will be on December 11 at Mbarara High Court.
“I wish to appeal to all development loving people of Mbarara to engage these so called kiosk owners because it is a very big challenge. It will be a shame at the end of the day that it is the people of Mbarara who have failed the development of the market,” Mr Lwanga said during the budget conference last week.
He added: “Initially the list was showing about 77 kiosk owners but a big number of them appreciated the importance of such development and they agreed with us. About 10 people are still opposing the move,”
Mr Kakyebezi warned the claimants that the market and development plan will not change.
“That place is planned for the market so if the land is yours, know that it is a market. The bank has given us the last chance we can not fail to build the market,” Mr Kakyebezi said.
But Mr Moses Turyaramya, the vice chairman of the association, on Tuesday said they are not against development but their interests have to be taken care of as well.
