Kitgum District | THE BLACK EXAMINER | President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni inaugurated the newly constructed Kitgum Main Market today. The market’s commissioning took place as part of Uganda’s 61st Independence Anniversary celebrations, held in Kitgum District under the theme: ‘Sustaining a United and Progressive Nation: Taking Charge of Our Future as a Free Nation.’
Kitgum Main Market is a key component of the Market Infrastructure Developments under the Markets And Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme-2 (MATIP-2). This initiative aims to enhance economic and social infrastructure in urban markets, stimulate increased production and marketing of agricultural commodities, boost vendor incomes, create more job opportunities, and improve customer satisfaction.
The decision to implement this intervention was based on the findings of a feasibility study commissioned by the Government of Uganda in March 2008. The study assessed the state and infrastructure of local markets across the country.
During the commissioning ceremony, Hon. Raphael Magyezi, the Minister for Local Government, informed President Museveni that Kitgum Main Market is one of the 12 additional markets constructed under MATIP-2, with a total cost of Shs24.55 billion (including VAT).
Magyezi described the new Kitgum Market as capable of accommodating over 1,700 market vendors. It features a variety of facilities, including stalls for fruits and vegetables, matooke, meat lockups, dry and fresh fish, assorted shops, saloons, bulk storage, cold rooms, market administration offices, as well as meeting and prayer rooms.
Additionally, the market is equipped with support facilities such as utility rooms, control rooms, a solar system, CCTV surveillance, fire extinguishers, banking and SACCO services, parking space, and other amenities.
Magyezi highlighted the decentralization of facility allocation to the Urban Authority and Market Leadership to ensure that all registered vendors receive priority in the allocation of the new market facilities.
MATIP-2, an expansion of MATIP-1, was officially launched in March 2016. It was designed to revitalize 12 markets in urban councils across different regions of Uganda, along with the establishment of three high-level value addition facilities in Arua, Busia, and Soroti.
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