MBARARA CITY, January 17, 2025 – The Permanent Secretary [PS]in the Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya, has called on Mbarara City officials to expedite the recovery of Shs 100 million in unpaid rent fees from the fish vendors operating in the newly refurbished Mbarara Central Market.
Among others, Kumumanya cited 15 fresh fish vendors who are required to pay Shs 100,000 per month for each stall. However, since occupying the stalls in the renovated market, these vendors have not paid a total of Shs 45 million, citing the high rent as a reason for non-compliance.
The PS explained that the government’s initiative to construct 19 new central markets across Uganda was designed to provide a better working environment for vendors, promote wealth creation, and boost household incomes. He emphasized that the fees collected from these markets are essential for local governments to provide key services, such as paying for electricity and water bills.
Kumumanya urged the Market Master and other city officials to enforce the Market Act, ensuring that the central market operates smoothly and without confusion. “We now have a law that governs these markets. The Act clearly states that these markets are public properties, not private businesses,” he said. “All those who have defaulted on their rent payments should pay, as the markets were built with a loan that needs to be repaid.”
The PS also expressed his commitment to addressing the market’s challenges, including the ongoing issue of power outages, by lobbying for a standby generator for Mbarara Central Market. “We will explore the possibility of providing a standby generator to help this market,” Kumumanya added.
Fish vendor spokesperson Craish Rugema said the vendors are willing to pay their arrears but placed the blame on Mbarara’s city leaders, particularly the recently transferred Town Clerk Assy Abirebe Tumwesigire, for not addressing the vendors’ concerns.
“It’s not that we are refusing to pay. The issue lies with the city leadership, who have ignored our challenges,” Rugema stated. He also argued that the Shs 100,000 monthly rent is too high, particularly as vendors must also cover their electricity and water bills. Rugema suggested a reduction in monthly rent to Shs 50,000 per stall.
He further pointed out that Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, had instructed the city leaders to engage with the vendors since 2023 to resolve the matter, but this has yet to happen.
Emmanuel Muhumuza, Chairman of the Mbarara Central Market Association, warned that if the city council does not address the grievances of fishmongers, all market vendors could stop paying rent. “The issue of fish vendors has been ongoing, and it has not been resolved. Some vendors are now questioning why they should pay rent when fishmongers have not paid for two years,” Muhumuza explained.
He stressed that the ongoing silence from city leadership on the matter could negatively impact local revenue collection in Mbarara.
Mbarara Central Market is one of the newly constructed markets across Uganda with support from the African Development Bank [AfDB] under the Uganda Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme [MATIP]. The programme aims to improve market infrastructure and agricultural trade to reduce poverty and promote economic growth through increased commercialisation of agricultural products.
https://thecooperator.news/mbarara-central-market-city-authorities-feud-over-revenue-collections/
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
Views: 0
