Mutukula to get regional market

Facility. An artistic impression of the wholesale shops to be constructed at Mutukula regional market, Kyotera District. COURTESY PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • Mutukula is located in extreme southern Kyotera District at the international border between Uganda and Tanzania. The town is approximately 225.1 kilometers by road from Kampala

All is set for the construction of a regional market at Mutukula border post in Kyotera District.

Mr Karim Karamagi, the chief executive officer at Rural United Business Association Network (RUSBA) Ltd, on Monday said construction of the regional market at Kasanvu Village on Kyotera- Mutukula Road will start in December.

“Kyotera District local government leased to us 200 acres of land with the purpose of constructing a regional market and trust me, it will be the largest [market] in the East African region,” he said.

Mr Karamagi revealed that the project will be funded by South African based Degitech Energy Company Ltd
However, he declined to disclose the specific budget for the project, but it is reported that the facility is estimated to cost more than Shs1 trillion . “Apart from the technical work which needs expatriates, our local people will be the first to get employed,” he said.

Mr Karamagi said the market will bring together manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers and consumers from all over the East African region.
“Our target is to create employment and promote entrepreneurial growth in Uganda, in so doing we will spur value addition and also promote export of value added products to regional markets like [East African Community] EAC and Comesa [Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa],” he says

Benefits
The Kyotera District Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Fred Kalyesubula, said the market is among government initiatives to encourage the private sector to engage in gainful trade and investments.

“We have embraced the market project because it will spur development in this new district. We appeal to the implementers to speed up the progress and have their building plans approved by the district,” he said.

In July Mr Ali Kirunda Kivejinja, the Third Deputy Prime Minister, and Mr Affairs Vincent Ssempijja, the Agriculture minister, visited the proposed site for the project and pledged full government support.

According to Mr Karamagi, the market will operate every Tuesday and Friday and that it will have a livestock yard where animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle, among others will be kept temporarily for slaughter and sale on the local and export market
When asked whether the market will not cause collapse of other businesses in the area, Mr Karamagi said the project will instead boost the businesses since more consumers will be coming to the area.

About Mutukula

Mutukula is located in extreme southern Kyotera District at the international border between Uganda and Tanzania. The town is approximately 225.1 kilometers by road from Kampala.

In 2017, Mutukula became a one-stop-border-post, operating 24 hours daily. Transit goods, passengers, travellers and exports exiting through Mutukula to either Tanzania or Uganda, stop once for clearance by immigration and customs officials.