By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
Mbale Central Market Vendors have faced off with the Mbale City Authorities over the latter’s move to increase monthly rates and to disband the Market Vendors Executive.
The Standoff that saw the Market temporarily closed today, Monday, 26th August, 2024 is informed by the Council’s move to increase the monthly rates from Shs30,000 to Shs170,000 and to have the Vendors Executive replaced by a Technical person hereby referred to as, ‘Market Administrator.’
According to Ali Madoi, one of the vendors at Mbale central market, they are very disappointed with the Council plans because they are going to affect vendors negatively.
Madoi adds that Mbale city wants to abolish the Chairperson of the market with his executive and replace with market administrator.
Stephen Mwambu, also a vendor at Mbale central market says that they are not ready to accept these plans arguing that they can’t allow the market to be run by a Market Administrator.
He adds that Shs170,000 Mbale city wants is too much to a vendor at Mbale central market saying this will force them to abandon their work and go back to villages because they can’t afford to pay that.
During the meeting which was held at the market after security and Mbale city intervening, vendors unanimously rejected the new taxes and removing their Chairperson and the executive.
Perez Wambede, the Chairperson of Mbale Central market asked Mbale city to drop their plans warning that are ready to meet the President next month during his Mbale visit to address their grievances.
James Kutosi, the Mbale city public relations officer while addressing bitter vendors called for calm and asked vendors to resume their duties promising that the leadership of Mbale City Council will organize a meeting between Leaders of the market and Mbale city authorities to iron out those differences.
However, Hamza Banja, the deputy RCC Industrial City Division confirmed to the vendors that no new taxes are going to be imposed on them and that city authorities cannot disband Market executive without the approval of council seating.
By press time, the vendors had opened their shops and businesses were moving on normally.
