By URN
Leaders in Masindi Municipality and vendors operating in Masindi central market are irked and frustrated by the delayed construction of a new modern market under the Markets and Agriculture Trade Improvement Project (MATIP).
For the past ten years, the government has been promising vendors and leaders that it would construct a modern market, but to date, nothing has been done.
In September 2022, the government announced that it had earmarked shillings 42 billion for the construction of the Masindi modern market.
The current Masindi central market is operating in a dilapidated structure with over 1,000 vendors being accommodated. There is poor hygiene at the market putting the vendors at the risk of contracting diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera.
The market operates in darkness, especially during the night hours since there is not enough light posing the vendors to threat and invasion of thugs.
According to the leaders, the government tasked them to avail land for the construction of the market and the Municipality acquired a piece of land measuring five acres, but the government has since failed to begin the construction works.
Joselyne Alinaitwe, one of the vendors states that, at times thugs raid the market stealing their merchandise.
Gilbert Abigaba, another vendor explains that, currently there is too much congestion in the market given the huge number of vendors and calls on the government to expedite the process of building a modern market.
Wilbert Talemwa, also a vendor explains that there is poor hygiene at the market putting them at risk of contracting diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera.  He says, the facility only has one latrine to cater for the over 1,000 vendors.
On March 23, 2020, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Local Government Ben Kumamanya wrote to the town clerk of Masindi Municipality stating that, Masindi Central Market had been considered for re-development and as part of the prerequisite for executing the program, the municipality officials were required to submit a copy of the land title where the market would be located, a copy of the register of vendors and a copy of the management structure.
According to the letter then, Masindi Municipal Council authorities were supposed to send the documents no later than April 17th 2020.
Kumumanya then promised that, the market would be constructed during the 2020/2021 financial year under the Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Project (MATIP) but all in vain.
In 2022, officials from the local government ministry, ministry of finance and those from the African Development Bank went to Masindi Municipality to assess the situation of the market and also the area where the vendors can be shifted to commence construction work but to date, nothing is on the ground.
Joab Businge, the member of parliament for Masindi municipality explains that everything had been done wondering why the construction of a modern market in Masindi Municipality has stalled.
Isaac Bongmin, the LCIII Chairperson of the central division in Masindi Municipality has appealed to the government to consider constructing a modern market for Masindi district so that vendors can operate in a conducive working environment.
In November 2024, Raphael Magyezi, the Minister of Local Government noted that the construction of Masindi modern market was approved by the African Developed Bank, adding that all designs were made and approved.
He then stated that they were waiting for the President’s signature because he is supposed to approve every loan.
