Joseph Miti
24 July 2008
Kampala
The much anticipated redevelopment of St. Balikuddembe Market, originally known as Owino, has faced another setback as a faction of vendors has started pushing for fresh election of new leadership for the market.
Vendors under their umbrella body, St. Balikuddembe Market (Owino) Farm Produce Vendors and Shop Owners Organisation, have started pushing for the election of a new administration to undertake the redevelopment.
Daily Monitor has learnt that vendors, led by Mr John Bosco Kivumbi, met the State Minister for Economic Monitoring, Mr Kagimu Kiwanuka, on July 16 and persuaded him to back their cause.
When contacted, Mr Kivumbi confirmed the development on Tuesday, saying they met Mr Kiwanuka to express their dissatisfaction with the way the current managers of the market, led by Mr Godfrey Kayongo, were handling the matter. Mr Kayongo is the Owino Market chairman. "We are suspicious of Mr Kayongo's group which is spearheading the redevelopment drive," Mr Kivumbi said on Tuesday.
"We have experienced numerous administration problems with his management and it is our wish and desire to get a new leadership. We think Mr Kayongo cannot handle such a big venture," he said.The vendors also accused Mr Kayongo of clinging onto the association leadership since 2006.
Efforts to receive a comment from Mr Kayongo and his deputy, Mr James Lumaze were futile since their phones were off.However, Mr Kiwanuka confirmed meeting the two conflicting groups last week with intentions of uniting them.
"I met them with a view of uniting them into one force that can drive the anticipated market redevelopment," Mr Kiwanuka said in an interview.
During the meeting, Mr Kiwanuka said they agreed on several issues including holding a vendors' general conference within one month and promoting transparency among market leaders. Mr Kiwanuka said they also agreed on electing new leadership for two committees; that of the market leadership and another to collect funds for the market development.
"I told them it was a mistake to spend almost three years without electing leaders," he said adding that confusion in all city markets have been arising from failure to elect good leadership.
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