Kampala — Rhino Investments, a company owned by Col. John Mugyenyi yesterday surrendered the Kisekka Market land title for Kampala City Council to transfer ownership to the vendors.

Local Government Minister Adolf Mwesige said during the handover of the title at his office in Kampala that government will compensate Rhino Investments.

However, the minister refused to reveal the amount of money government will compensate the company owned by the retired UPDF officer and his wife Hope Mugyenyi, saying the evaluation of the compensation package it still going on.

"I can't tell you how much because we are still evaluating. But we have committed ourselves to compensate Rhino and the company has agreed to hand over the title," he said.

The market ownership transfer to vendors marks the end of riots by vendors over government's delay to give them ownership of the facility.

Mr Mwesige said: "Rhino Investments has agreed to hand over the title and the transfer instruments back to KCC. City Council will keep the title. This new development comes after the President directed that sitting vendors should be given a priority to develop their market," he said.

Ms Hope Mugyengyi, a director in the company, said they had entered a joint venture with vendors to develop the market, "but the process was politicised." She added: "Since government is committed to pay us, vendors can now take the ownership."

Col. Mugyenyi told journalists after the handover ceremony that he never wanted to grab the market.

"I am one of those people who respect others and their property. That's why the re-development was called a joint venture," he said.

He said his intention to take market ownership was to build a modern structure. "I sincerely wanted everybody who had a stall in that market to get a modern complete structure for 49 years," he said.

He blamed politicians in Kampala, whom he accused of inciting vendors to demonstrate.

Kampala Mayor Nasser Sebaggala, who received the title on behalf of vendors, said: "There will be harmony in the city because the vendors have been given ownership of the market."

The handover follows President Museveni's directive last year to Attorney General, Khiddu Makubuya to evaluate the market and compensate Col. Mugyenyi, who had secured a 49-year lease. The President said the market should be handed over to the vendors.