Authorities in Kasese municipality have started the process to allocate vendors spaces in the Kasese Modern Central Market.
The Market which is one of the 12 markets that have been constructed under the markets and Agricultural Trade improvement Programme (MATIP-2), at 14. 9 billion Shillings, will accommodate over 800 vendors and has 467 stalls and 311 lockup shops.
According to Isaiah Twesigye the Kasese Municipal Council Town Clerk, they have decided to conduct the relocation exercise in phases to avoid the congestion that would otherwise be a health risk amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Twesigye says that 94 traders have so far been availed space in the new market and since the market is complete, all roadside vendors should occupy the stalls or risk being evicted.
The exercise however seems to have not gone well with some of the traders especially those dealing in fresh produce decrying the high competition from uncontrolled those hawking produce on the streets.
These claim their biggest business threat is coming from those hawking similar products even around the market. They want the authorities to streamline the food hawking business so that traders in the market can also get enough customers.
