FORT PORTAL – Food vendors in Fort Portal City’s Kabundaire market have decried poor hygiene in that market, saying their customers now avoid the market due to the stench arising from the uncollected garbage.
The vendors say because of poor hygiene, buyers no longer want to shop in the market because of the disturbing smell of decomposing garbage, which has negatively affected their sales.
They say much as Kabundaire is the main food market for people in Fort Portal City, authorities have given it little attention.
The market which has more than 1,000 food vendors is covered in a very unpleasant smell with flies hanging around all day, a situation that vendors say is unhealthy.
Robert Tusiime, a vendor who sells tomatoes said they have been complaining about the stench in the market and how it is scaring away customers but no solution has ever been given.
“The division leadership used to collect garbage until they stopped about a month ago. We are now suffering since it is even a rainy season. When it rains, the situation deteriorates,” he said.
Oliva Kemigisa, another vendor said they pay money for garbage collection every day but they don’t know what it is used for.
“We have suffered with the stench from this garbage, we have children who might get infections and ourselves too because due to the bad smell we breathe in we have suffered running stomachs,” she said.
George William Ssekanjago who deals in fresh produce said when it rains, the market becomes muddy and floods destroy their produce, a state that poses a serious health threat to them and the consumers.
Steven Lubega the chairperson Kabundaire market said the state of the market exposes the vendors to diseases like dysentery and cholera.
He said he has raised the matter to Fort Portal City authorities but they are yet to respond.
The Fort Portal City mayor, Edison Asaba Ruyonga said they are trying their best to ensure garbage is collected but sometimes they are hindered by trucks which are not in good mechanical condition.
“As the city leadership, we don’t have enough funds to use because our budget is overstressed but we hope in future all will be well,” he said.
The acting Fort Portal City town clerk, Richard Kagaba Ndora said managing garbage collection has become an issue in the city as there is no money to repair garbage collecting trucks.
He however appealed to the public to ensure that they keep garbage in sacks instead of throwing it on the streets and other places in the city.
“You need to bear with us as you know that the economy is very harsh but we hope soon or later, all will be well,” Ndora said.
https://thecooperator.news/lands-ministry-gives-two-trucks-to-gulu-city-for-garbage-collection/
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