Clients shun stalls at Jinja market

Stuck. A lady stands next to some of the abandoned butcheries in the market. PHOTO BY DENIS EDEMA

What you need to know:

  • Mr Emmanuel Osuban, a chicken dealer, said they are facing water shortage following the disconnection of water to the abattoir.
  • The LC3 chairperson of Jinja Central Division, Mr Mubarak Kirunda, said the market situation was bad, referring to it as “being deliberately intended by some political leaders at municipality level.”
  • The Shs28b market was constructed through the African Development Bank under Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme and commissioned by President Museveni on November 17, 2014 although it became operational in February 2015.

Jinja. About 200 stalls in Jinja Central Market in Jinja Municipality have been abandoned due to lack of an access gate.
Authorities have not taken steps to reallocate the abandoned stalls and this is costing the municipality.
Of the 200 stalls, 36 sell meat while 68 sell chicken, with each stall rented at Shs200,000 per month, Mr Majid Mpoya, the chairperson of the meat section, said on Monday.

“There is only one access to these stalls which has been a point of contention among the vendors,” Mr Daniel Khaukha, the vice chairperson of chicken vendors, said.
Adding: “If the market is not recouping money for Jinja Central Division and the municipality, both parties should take the blame because they are aware of the challenges we face.”
Mr Khaukha said a request was made for two gates with one opposite the taxi park to enable customers access the stalls but nothing has been done.

The LC3 chairperson of Jinja Central Division, Mr Mubarak Kirunda, said the market situation was bad, referring to it as “being deliberately intended by some political leaders at municipality level.”
“It is stated in the Bible that a solution to good leadership is through elections; however, the current market leadership has expired and has refused to conduct elections,” he said.
The market is also choking on filth, with unutilised stalls used as garbage pits.

A visit to the facility on Monday revealed that the market has not been cleaned for some time.
Mr Mpoya said there is no proper mechanism put in place for collecting garbage inside the market.
The vice chairperson of Jinja Central Market Traders Association, Mr Paul Nkaga, said: “There are many issues, one of which is poor leadership from the municipality officials who are divided; and when we present some of the matters to them, they say we are not policy makers.”

He said because of that they have given permission to some vendors to operate outside the market which has made revenue collection difficult.
Mr Emmanuel Osuban, a chicken dealer, said they are facing water shortage following the disconnection of water to the abattoir.
Efforts to get a comment from the Senior Assistant Town Clerk of Jinja Central Division, Mr Peter Mawerere, were futile as he cited a busy work schedule.
However, the Jinja Municipality Council deputy Town Clerk, Mr Jofram Waidhuuba, said: “The vendors should take the blame because they have failed the operations of the market by not paying money to the council.”

Jinja market
The Shs28b market was constructed through the African Development Bank under Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme and commissioned by President Museveni on November 17, 2014 although it became operational in February 2015.
The market has more than 7,000 vendors with 11 departments selling fish, meat, clothes, old and new clothes, chicken and hardware among others.