Uganda’s largest open market, St. Balikudembe, popularly known as Owino market in country’s capital, has been effectively taken over by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)
The Executive Director of KCCA Ms Dorothy Kisaka, announced the official takeover on Tuesday, during a second visit she undertook with the authority’s team through the market.
She also requested the vendors to organise elections for new leadership of the market, to replace renowned trader and chairman Godfrey Kayongo Nkajja.
Last year, Vendors in the four markets including the Owino and Nakasero issued an ultimatum, urging the Ministry of Kampala and KCCA to replace market Association leaders, threatening to hold demonstrations to oust leadership from those markets .
Kisaka also acknowledged traders in the market for observing COVID-19 standard operating procedures as directed by the Ministry of Health in the market.
She also commended them for exercising their democratic franchise in the recently concluded national polls.
Several vendors welcomed the move, saying it will solve several challenges they faced under private administration.
The directive highlights issues of market leadership, ownership, compensation, relocation, and suspension of government taxes in the market.