The Arua City authorities have been tasked by traders in Arua Central Market to evict all street vendors whom they accuse of frustrating their businesses.
During a meeting on Monday, the vendors issued the ultimatum of seven days to the authorities.
They argue that since most commodities are scattered along the different streets within Arua city, most people prefer buying from the street vendors instead of going to the market.
Currently, there are 500 stalls in the central market that are unoccupied and the traders want the vendors to be resettled in these.
According to John Anguyo Secretary-General Arua Main Market Vendors Association, they want the City authorities to protect their livelihoods by allowing all vendors to trade within the gazetted market.
The Chairman General Arua Main Market Vendors Association Nelson Dada says their repeated pleas to the city officials to prevail over the street vending and the continued operations of Owino market in Lobida fell on the deaf ears.
The Arua City Mayor Sam Wadri Nyakua says that they are in the process of returning the vendors to the market.
Currently, vendors with stalls in the new market pay rent of 7,000 and 10,000 Shillings per month, while those with lockup shops pay100,000 -250,000 depending on the location.
Arua Main market was constructed with funds from African Development Bank at a tune of Shs34.9 billion under the second phase of the Market and Agricultural trade improvement program (MATIP II).
