Traders at Kikoma Market in Sembabule District have opposed plans to relocate the facility, citing concerns over outstanding loans, business disruption and inadequate security at the proposed site, while local leaders say the current location poses road safety risks.
Traders at Kikoma Market in Mabindo Sub-county, Sembabule District, have protested plans to relocate the facility, accusing local leaders of making decisions about their livelihoods without adequate consultation.
The traders gathered at the market on Sunday, October 25, displaying placards opposing the proposed relocation and accusing Mabindo Sub-county LCIII Chairperson John Mwesigwa Chuchuuli and Sub-county Speaker Bosco Kabogo of allegedly working with unidentified individuals to move the market.
They said the market was their main source of income and warned that relocating it could disrupt their businesses and leave many struggling to repay outstanding loans.
The traders argued that local leaders had discussed the proposal without seeking their views, despite the potential impact on their businesses and families.
“This is where we earn our daily income and support our families. It is unfair for leaders to decide to relocate the market without consulting us first,” one trader said.
They vowed to resist any attempt to move the market until their concerns had been addressed.
Fred Tamale, the market vendors’ chairperson, opposed the relocation plan, saying it would disrupt businesses and threaten traders’ livelihoods.
“We cannot accept the market being removed from this place. As the chairperson representing the traders, I will not agree to its relocation,” Tamale said.
He called on local leaders to engage the vendors and find a solution that would allow them to continue earning a living without jeopardising their investments.
Birimuye Pascal, a traders’ representative and chairperson of the village where the market is located, said the facility needed improvements rather than relocation.
He said traders had previously proposed installing speed humps along the road to reduce accidents associated with the market’s location.
Pascal also questioned the suitability of the proposed relocation site, arguing that it lacked adequate security for traders’ merchandise.
“Many traders have loans they are still paying. If this market is removed, how are they expected to repay those loans? The proposed new location also does not have sufficient security for traders’ property,” Pascal said.
He urged local leaders to address road safety concerns while protecting traders’ investments.
Councillor denies interest in market land
Paul Kyagera, the councillor representing Mabindo Sub-county at the district council, dismissed allegations that he was interested in purchasing the land on which the market stands.
Kyagera said the accusations were intended to damage his reputation because he had spoken out in support of the affected traders.
“I have no interest in buying this market. These allegations are intended to tarnish my name because I came out to defend the people,” he said.
He urged the sub-county leadership to acquire additional land for a new market rather than force traders to leave their current location.
Kabogo defended the proposed relocation, saying the existing market was too small and dangerously situated along the road.
He said the location had contributed to road accidents, including incidents in which people had died, making relocation necessary to improve safety for traders and other road users.
“The intention is not bad. The current market is too small, and it is located in the middle of the road, which has contributed to accidents and loss of lives,” Kabogo said.
He added that the sub-county leadership had identified a person willing to provide a larger piece of land for the proposed market.
According to Kabogo, the new site would provide more space for traders and address some of the challenges associated with the existing location.
His explanation contrasts with the traders’ position that they were not adequately consulted before the relocation proposal was advanced.
The traders, meanwhile, want local leaders to explain the arrangements for the proposed site and address concerns about security and the potential disruption to their businesses.
The disagreement highlights the challenge of balancing public safety and market development with the economic interests of small-scale traders who depend on local markets for their livelihoods.
The relocation dispute remains unresolved, with traders demanding dialogue before any move is implemented and the sub-county leadership maintaining that a larger site would help address safety and space constraints.