The increasing number of vendors on Kabale’s roads is causing concern among the central market leadership. The leaders are alarmed that these street vendors are selling the same items as those in the market, particularly food items, which is impacting their businesses.
Daily, Kabale market vendors are encountering challenges similar to those experienced in Kampala. Vendors have occupied various streets, setting up food baskets and other stalls, effectively turning these areas into bustling marketplaces.
This situation is in direct defiance of a directive issued by the local Government Minister, Raphael Magyezi, who instructed Kabale Municipal Council authorities to regulate street vending.
Alex Muhumuza, Chairperson of Kabale Central Market, notes that the rise in street vendors has significantly affected market operations. “We go and buy commodities, restock our stalls, but they are rotting because we don’t have customers coming to the market. Municipal council authorities have not done much to fight street vendors yet I thought that the council is responsible for implementing and regulating street vending,” Muhumuza highlights.
The market vendors are questioning why the municipal leadership has not taken any action. They are frustrated that their efforts to maintain their businesses are being undermined by the unregulated street vendors.
Sam Arinetwe, Chairman of Central Division, acknowledges the difficulty in collecting taxes from market vendors under these circumstances. He warns that force might be used to clear the streets if necessary.
“As leaders, we cannot go to collect taxes in the market and then also allow people to vend on the street. It must be a two-way street. When people give you the revenue, you must provide them with a good environment to trade without competition from those who don’t pay taxes. We want our central market to be fully utilized, or else we will initiate operations to remove street vendors from the streets,” Arinetwe says.
Recently, Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi condemned street vending, stating that it should not be allowed, especially since a market has been constructed. “As government, we shall not allow street vending when we constructed the market,” Minister Magyezi asserts.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Kabale Municipal Council authorities were unsuccessful.
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