Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has completed the final phase of repossessing markets and abattoirs in the city but intrigue from within is threatening the successful repossession ahead of elections for new leaders of these facilities, The Observer has learnt.
These include St Balikuddembe market popularly known as Owino, Nakasero market, Bugolobi market and Kisekka market, among others. The abattoirs include City Abattoir, Uganda Meat Industries, Kalerwe abattoirs I and II, Wankulukuku and Wambizi in Nalukolongo, among others.
These facilities are said to directly employ about 50,000 individuals, majority of whom are vendors. The business in these facilities is also estimated to be worth Shs 500bn annually.
Over the past couple of days, KCCA teams have been engaging various leaders for a smooth transition of power but have faced some resistance, especially in Owino and Kisekka markets. The move comes in the wake of President Museveni's September 25 directive to Kampala minister Betty Amongi to ensure that management of all these facilities is returned to the hands of KCCA. Last week, Dorothy Kisaka, the KCCA executive director, communicated to all the affected facilities to inform them of the immediate takeover.
"KCCA is mandated to establish, maintain, control and manage markets in Kampala. Therefore, in exercise of the enabling laws, I am writing to inform you that KCCA will henceforth assume immediate management of the Kampala markets and abattoirs. You are, therefore, required to immediately hand over the management team, without fail," reads part of Kisaka's letter to the various managements of the facilities.
"Take further notice that henceforth, the leadership shall be an elected leadership who will work together with the KCCA management team to oversee the affairs of the market/abattoir."
The move has been welcomed by various groups of vendors, who accuse previous leaders of exploiting them. However, sources at KCCA have intimated that sabotage within the institution could derail the process, with some top-level KCCA officials involved.
"This has been long overdue and I'm happy the president has ensured that our voice is heard," says Susan Kushaba, the leader of Owino vendors.
"However, we know there are some KCCA officials who have a conflict of interest in the process because they are part of the cartel that has been taking advantage of vendors."
Among those accused is Benny Namugwanya, the Kampala Affairs state minister, who is said to own stalls in various markets. The Observer has obtained a copy of a Kisekka market's Stanbic bank account where she is listed among the vendors. Also fingered are top officials in the KCCA directorate of Physical Planning.
"Many of them became accomplices of market leaders to the extent they are on the payroll that is supplied regular foodstuffs from markets and meat from abattoirs," intimated a ministry of Kampala Affairs official.
"So, they are fighting the process because returning of ownership to KCCA will bring to an end their eating."
OVERVIEW
For more than two decades, operations of these markets and abattoirs have been shrouded in controversy resulting from disputed ownership. For instance, government had to compensate individuals such as Hassan Basajjabalaba and Brig John Mugenyi in excess of Shs 170bn after they controversially obtained leases to manage various markets and abattoirs.
Just a few months ago, KCCA granted Godfrey Kayongo, through his St Balikuddembe Stalls Space and Lock-up Shops Owners Association (SSLOA), the go-ahead to redevelop Owino market before President Museveni intervened and ordered that all forms of management be solely in the hands of KCCA.
The Observer has obtained information that as a result of the presidential directive, Kayongo is demanding in excess of Shs 100bn in compensation, of which a substantial amount has already been paid to him.
"I am the rightful owner of the lease to develop the market and any orders to the contrary will mean I have to be compensated," said Kayongo when The Observer reached out to him.
He, however, refused to say exactly how much he demands in compensation. It is on this background that Kisaka is seeking to streamline the operations by ensuring that KCCA takes charge of all operations in markets and abattoirs.
When The Observer reached out to Kisaka, she said she needed more time to consult. Various stakeholders in the market/ abattoir business have intimated how the president's move is going to cut out middlemen.
"Our hope is that the directive is going to remove the exploitative costs we've been paying such as daily charges, stall charges, monthly levies as well as utilities like water and electricity," says Kushaba, who is also the coordinator of Team Thorough, a group led by vendors campaigning for President Museveni.
POLITICAL TACTIC
The move is also seen as a way for President Museveni to win the favour of vendors, who have been voting for the opposition in recent elections. A top-level source within KCCA who preferred anonymity told The Observer that the president's move is a stitch in time to empower vendors, who for long have had no say in the affairs of managing these facilities.
"The President is returning the markets to the vendors by ensuring that they determine how they are led," said the source.
"As good as the intent is, however, this is a calculated political manoeuvre to win over the oppressed in the city that have suffered at the hands of powerful middlemen."
CORRUPTION
Ahead of the elections, several factions have emerged to position themselves for leadership but, according to impeccable sources, KCCA has set up a vetting committee to ensure only vendors with clean hands are eligible to stand.
"We have come across information that the process of electing new leaders is being hijacked by self- seekers but we will not allow anyone who has been part of the exploiting vendors eligible," says the high-placed source.
The Observer has learnt that the targeted individuals are those who misused President Museveni's Shs 250m grant to Owino vendors last year. John Baptist Kivumbi, the chairman of the St Balikuddembe Market Producers, Traders and Vendors Cooperative Society Limited, accuses members Joseph Lwanga, Fred Mwesigwa, Herbert Tuhame, Denis Beyendeza and Hamza Kent Rwendegye of apportioning themselves the money at the expense of the vendors.
The accused are said to have taken at least Shs 40m each but in spite of a petition to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, no investigation has taken place, according to our source.
"We are disappointed that the people who have taken advantage of the vendors' plight are untouchable," says Kushaba, who has vowed to follow the matter to the highest office.
Source
