Vendors at Mbale Central Market have strongly protested recent administrative changes imposed by city authorities, which involve disbanding their market executive and replacing it with a team of city officials.
Previously, the Market Administrator collaborated closely with the market executive to ensure smooth operations. However, a directive issued by Deputy Town Clerk Kassim Waboga, in accordance with the new Market Act 2013, has shifted market management powers to urban authorities.
The vendors view this change as a drastic and unwarranted intervention, fearing it could undermine their hard-earned stability and lead to potential exploitation by city officials.
They cite a history of mismanagement and lack of accountability among previous market administrators, including allegations of revenue misappropriation by a former market master.
Issues such as poor garbage management, frequent power disconnections, and rampant theft of merchandise have plagued the market in the past.
"Council had a racket and introduced a banking agent of their own, conditioning everyone to deposit money with the agent, but the funds did not go to the designated account," said Umar Magombe, a vendor, expressing the vendors' frustration.
Vendors see the restructuring as an attempt to diminish their influence and open the door to exploitation.
They argue that the new arrangement disrupts a system that was working relatively well and undermines their rights.
The market executive has played an integral role in managing vendor disputes, liaising with city authorities, and facilitating vendors' access to credit.
The vendors fear that the removal of this body will reverse the improvements in market operations and bring back the issues of garbage management, power outages, and insecurity that previously plagued the market.
The impact of the changes is already being felt, with significant increases in market fees.
"They have raised the fee for a lockup from shs30,000 to shs170,000 , claiming they are aligning it with fees in other markets," said Perez Wambeded, the vendor's committee chairperson.
Yusu Gidudu, a meat vendor, added, "The fee for a stall has also jumped from shs5,000 to shs120,000 . While an increase might be necessary, it should be gradual and fair."
The vendors argue that these increases are excessive and could potentially drive them out of business.
Nafuna Kuluthum Mutuwa, a vendor, expressed strong support for their chairperson, emphasizing that they elected him based on trust and his understanding of their issues.
"We support our chairperson because we voted for him out of trust, as he knows our problems and was chosen to represent our concerns to the council," she said.
Nafuna highlighted that the council's decision to replace him while simultaneously increasing fees is troubling.
"It's disheartening that the council is removing our elected leader and raising fees at the same time. All vendors rely on our elected leaders to voice our grievances to the council, as we cannot all go there individually," she added.
The vendors believe that city authorities are targeting the market executive to reopen avenues for siphoning funds--practices that the current market administration has worked diligently to eliminate.
They are particularly troubled by the demotion of Market Administrator Richard Mafabi, a decision seen as highly suspicious, especially given Mafabi's remarkable success in increasing market revenue from shs60 million in the 2022/23 financial year to shs230 million in 2023/24.
Mafabi played a central role in combating the use of fake receipts, ensuring that all market revenue was properly banked into the correct council accounts.
His efforts also led to the significant clearance of outstanding bills, including reducing a shs100-million electricity bill by shs74 million.
By addressing these financial issues, Mafabi, together with the market executive, had brought the market back from the brink of chaos, which makes his demotion all the more concerning for the vendors.
The vendors have voiced strong discontent over the lack of consultation and sensitization both before and after the enactment of the new law, which they argue was crafted with political motives that ultimately disadvantage them.
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In response to these issues, the vendors have appealed to President Museveni and relevant authorities for intervention.
Mbale City Public Relations Officer James Kutosi explained that the new Market Act abolished the market executive and reverted market management to the urban authority, further detailing the new administrative structure.
Kutosi acknowledged the significant improvement in market revenue under the previous market executive, stating, "A number of people have been affected by the act, yet as an authority, we are obligated to implement it."
He advised the vendors to remain calm and operate within the confines of the law.
Kutosi also unveiled plans to clear outstanding market bills by the end of this financial year.
City Resident Commissioner Asumin Nasike has intervened in the matter to find an amicable solution.
