Bukomansimbi vendors demand permanent market after years of unfulfilled promises

Traders and leaders in Bukomansimbi Town Council are appealing for government intervention to secure land for a permanent market, saying years of operating on rented premises have left vendors exposed to poor conditions and uncertainty.

Leaders of Bukomansimbi Town Council together with traders have appealed to government to help them acquire land for the construction of a permanent market, saying vendors have spent more than 15 years operating from rented premises without a lasting solution.

The appeal comes as the town council intensifies operations to remove roadside traders and relocate them to a temporary market site occupying about half an acre of land. The site is expected to accommodate more than 134 traders.

For years, many vendors abandoned the designated market and shifted to roadsides, especially along the Masaka–Sembabule road, citing poor working conditions and lack of proper facilities.

Local authorities, however, now insist that all roadside traders must return to the designated market area.

According to Bukomansimbi Town Clerk Abbey Kabuye, the operation targets all traders operating along roadsides, including meat sellers, chapati vendors, food vendors and stall operators.

“We are implementing this directive to restore order in the town and also to protect the lives of residents because roadside trading has exposed many people to accidents and other dangers,” Kabuye said.

He explained that the relocation exercise is intended to improve public safety and enhance organisation within the town.

However, roadside traders led by their secretary, Josephine Nalubulwa Kisakye, together with trader Diriisa Ssemanda, criticised the move, arguing that relocating them away from busy roads would hurt their businesses.

“This decision is unfair to us because our businesses depend on people who buy items while traveling. Moving us away from the roadside will greatly reduce our income,” Nalubulwa said.

The council has also directed “Mubuulo” market traders, who had been operating from the Bukomansimbi playground, to relocate to the same market site.

Chairperson of the Mubuulo traders, James Katumba, said traders were willing to comply but appealed for the establishment of a larger and permanent market structure.

“We are more than 400 traders, yet the market space is too small to accommodate all of us. We only operate once a week, on Saturdays,” Katumba said.

He argued that relocating all traders to the same site could force some vendors onto newly tarmacked roads, potentially damaging the infrastructure and creating more congestion.

Traders further accused the town council of repeatedly promising them a permanent market over the past 15 years while continuing to collect rent without delivering on the pledge.

Town Clerk Kabuye acknowledged the frustrations and appealed to government to intervene by purchasing land for the construction of a modern market facility.

“We have been renting this place for years, yet traders continue to suffer, especially during rainy seasons. Government intervention is urgently needed so that we can establish a permanent market,” he said.

Traders operating in the current market said they endure major losses during rainy weather because the site lacks proper shelters and drainage systems.

“We lose goods whenever it rains because there are no proper shelters. We need a permanent market where our businesses can operate safely,” said Pascal Kiseka, chairperson of Bukomansimbi market traders.

Kabuye revealed that despite the land being rented, the town council is planning to construct a permanent market estimated to cost about Shs22 million, although funding has not yet been secured.

“We are planning to organise fundraising so that we can raise the money needed to construct the market, but for now traders should use umbrellas as temporary shelters for their goods,” he added.

The Mubuulo traders suggested that if the council cannot afford to rent multiple trading spaces, they should instead continue operating from the playground and manage the rent independently.

“We are willing to contribute money and secure rent ourselves if the council cannot manage it,” Katumba said.

Another trader, Robert Kalanzi, said vendors need certainty and stability to grow their businesses.

It was also revealed that the land hosting the market belongs to the late Paul Lutaaya and includes part of his burial site. However, Kabuye assured traders that market operations would not interfere with the grave or other family property.

“Though we are renting the place, we are in negotiations with family members to relocate Mr Lutaaya’s remains to another area so that he can rest in a more peaceful place because this is now a busy and noisy environment,” Kabuye said.

He appealed to all traders to relocate to the designated market before enforcement operations begin.