Summary:

• Minister Raphael Magyezi has ordered a new verification of vendors at Mbarara central market following the President’s request to ensure the market benefits low-income vendors. Magyezi outlined guidelines for city council leaders and vendors, including prohibitions on alcohol, mandates on cleanliness, and vendor zoning.

The Minister of Local Government Raphael Magyezi has directed fresh verification of all Mbarara central market vendors.

According to Magyezi, the President asked him to investigate and re-verify the vendors. Magyezi said that the markets constructed under The Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Project (MATIP) were designed to benefit the low-income earning vendors and not the people with big businesses.

Meeting Mbarara City leaders on Tuesday, Mageyzi also issued new guidelines that will be followed by both the city council leaders and the vendors.

Among the guidelines, Alcohol/bars are not allowed in the market, and cleanliness and hygiene should be adhered to. Others include zoning of vendors and discipline.

He added the President received complaints from vendors that lockups and stalls had been allocated to well-to-do people and others were being charged exorbitant fees.

Emmanuel Muhumuza the Central Market Vendors Chairperson confirmed that the verification exercise started even before the minister’s directive and was being done by a team from the President’s office.

He said that since the verification started he has received more than eight petitions from vendors complaining of being evicted from their lockups.

Mary Kyamwiru one of the affected vendors said that her lockup was given away without her knowledge.