Nakivubo Park Yard vendors still struggling for space

Former traders of Nakivubo Park Yard Market are still struggling to find space in Usafi market, ten days after the demolition of the park yard structures by city businessman Hamis Kiggundu.
Kiggundu's company, Ham Enterprises (U) Limited was contracted by M/S Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium Trustees, the registered proprietors of Plot 26 and 28 Nakivubo Stadium, to transform the stadium located in the heart of Kampala into a an ultra-modern facility with increased sitting capacity.

Prior to demolition of structures, vendors had been informed that Kiggundu fronted a six months' pay for 700 stalls in Usafi market, a facility adjacent to the clock tower, initially acquired by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to absorb vendors from the streets.
The offer was one of the explanations given by Ms Beti Kamya, the minister for Kampala and Jennifer Musisi, the KCCA executive director to justify the demolition of Nakivubo Park Yard Market.
However, vendors are still finding it hard to secure stall in the market. Every morning, they saunter to Usafi market with the hope that stalls will be provided to them. They are instead met with a cocktail of reasons why their stalls are not readily available.

Today, they were informed that their former leaders at the park yard market are now scrutinizing names of applicants to identify true park yard vendors before the allocation of stalls.
"We are still scrutinizing the names of applicants to identity the real Park Yard vendors. The identification exercise is going on right now and we hope, we will finish it today," Peter Kivumbi, the general secretary of Usafi Market Traders Association said.
He added that they have over 1,000 applicants yet the available spaces can only accommodate 700 vendors. But Vendors who spoke to this reporter said they were confused by various communications from Usafi leadership.

"We have been told that today is public holiday and that they will give us stalls tomorrow. There is something behind these changes that we don't know. We have been coming here to get stalls for more than a week," Godfrey Ssemanda, one of the traders said.
Ronald Wamala, another trader said they were assured that their space would be ready today. "I have been coming here every day because I don't want to miss a stall, but they are saying it is a public holiday…."Didn't they know that it's a public holiday?"