Govt to build 11 new markets

President Museveni (with hat), shakes hands with Lira Municipality MP Mr Jimmy Akena after the commisioning of Lira Main Market on Thursday. PHOTO BY Bill Oketch

What you need to know:

Indebted. Local Government minister said government has secured a 250b loan to construct the markets

Kampala.

The government has announced another $84.2m (about Shs250b) for construction of 11 new modern markets across the country.

The Minister of Local Government, Mr Adolf Mwesige, said the loan has been sourced from the African Development Bank (ADB).

The project implementation commences in July and will be supervised by the Ministry of Local Government under the second phase of Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme (MATIP-2).

Under the project, 11 new modern markets will be constructed in Busia, Tororo, Soroti, Arua, Kasese, Mbarara, Kitgum, Masaka, Moroto, Lugazi and Entebbe districts.

Mr Jeremiah Mutonga, the ADB resident representative, said the Bank is pleased to be working with the Ministry of Local Government as a capable partner.

“This programme will continue as long as we have our people - the traders - who want to work and we have a duty as government to provide better working conditions for them,” Mr Mwesige said at the commissioning of Lira Main Market on Thursday.

Under MATIP first phase, government constructed seven modern markets also with support from the ADB. Five of them have already been commissioned in Fort Portal, Wandegeya in Kampala, Jinja, Hoima, and Mbale. About 8,530 vendors have been allocated stalls.

Gulu Main Market has also been completed and is awaiting commissioning.
Lira Main Market, whose construction commenced in October 2011, and competed in June 2014, has 1,874 stalls, 453 lock-ups and several butchers.
It was officially opened by President Museveni on Thursday.

President Museveni warned the rich against poking their noses in the new market. He warned that if they dared, he would personally intervene.

“Those who are rich can go and build their own shops and so on. We built these markets for the [poor] people who were in the old market,” the President said. He added: “It must be those who must get stalls first. If any of my people are left out, I will come and throw out those who have invaded my stalls.”

Lira Municipality MP Mr Jimmy Akena, lauded the government for developing Lira Town.
“We suffered a lot as a district. Many of our people were selling along the main road where they were being killed by vehicles. Sometimes they would be chased away by the law enforcers. But now this market will accommodate as many people as possible and I know the business is going to flourish in Lira District,” Lira Woman MP Joy Atim Ongom, said.

The new markets
According to the Minister of Local Government, Mr Adolf Mwesige, the markets shall remain where they are and the market places will not be sold to private investors, instead the government shall develop the markets and let them be managed by the vendors.

The sitting tenants will be given first priority. The policy also provides that the registered vendors get back to their markets at no cost. Minimum market dues will be charged by the municipal council after the vendors have entered the market.