By Johnson Kanyesige
The Hoima City Woman Member of Parliament has tasked the ministry of local government to quickly establish roadside markets along major access roads in Hoima City as part of alternative and organized trading spaces for small holder farmers and informal traders.
In a letter seen by our reporter addressed to the permanent secretary of the ministry of local government, Nyakato Asinansi says a number of informal traders and small holder farmers in Hoima City depend on daily sales of agricultural produce and merchandize for their livelihoods and end up being forced on streets due to absence of adequate and accessible market spaces.
Nyakato says even though Hoima City has a central market, it is currently constrained due to the fact that the available space is insufficient to accommodate the growing number of traders operating within the City. Nyakato also adds that rent and associated user fees in the central market are beyond the affordability of many small-scale vendors.
The Hoima City Woman legislator believes the establishment of well-planned roadside markets along the major entry and exit routes to the City would provide a practical and sustainable solution for traders who now lack where to operate from since their eviction happened late March under directives from the same ministry.
She adds that as leaders in Hoima City they are committed to support the proposal and ready to work closely with the ministry and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful planning, development and management of the markets through mobilizing support, identifying suitable land and facilitating community engagement.
She says since government’s campaign of evicting street vendors kicked off, there has been a growing call for alternative and organized trading spaces where vendors can operate sustainably.
