Hoima City vendors defy orders to vacate streets

HOIMA– Street vendors in Hoima West Division, Hoima City are yet to relocate to the new area which authorities secured for them after being evicted from a private market.

The vendors now operating at Duhaga roundabout are part of the group who were evicted from a private market owned by businessman Francis Kabambe over rent arrears.

As a result, Hoima City authorities hired three plots of land for the evicted vendors but the traders now say the site is not suitable for business.

The land was secured after Hoima City Council passed a resolution that all vendors operating on different streets in the city vacate.

William Musiguzi, the chairperson of the vendors urged Hoima City authorities to secure them a permanent place instead of hiring, arguing that they need stability to do business.

“As vendors, we need to have a marketplace where we can operate at least for 40 years without disruption. This thing of shifting us anyhow inconveniences and subjects us to losses,” he said.

He accused Hoima City authorities of not engaging the vendors before hiring the new area, which he said is too small to accommodate the over 350 vendors operating on the city streets.

Jenifer Kimuli, another vendor selling tomatoes and other foodstuffs said the new site is unclean but also urged the city authorities to build permanent market structures.

She further noted the area is not accessible by the customers since it is located inside a perimeter wall belonging to a businessman.

Meanwhile, the Hoima city deputy mayor, Sylvia Nalumaga, when contacted to comment on the matter, insisted vendors should vacate the streets by the end of this month.

She noted that they have already paid the landlord and prepared the site for the vendors to relocate, warning that who will fail to adhere to the set timeline for vacating will be forced to vacate the streets.

She accused vendors of congesting the city streets, saying they have contributed to the rise in road accidents happening in the city.

“We are going to implement a council resolution. Hoima City and Hoima West Division councils resolved that vendors should vacate the streets and go to gazetted places. We are going to implement this resolution early May, so those who will not adhere will look for where to go,” she said.

https://thecooperator.news/hoima-police-halt-illegal-eviction-of-over-1000-residents/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news