Government has constituted a Joint Grievance Redress Committee to urgently address concerns raised by vendors regarding stall allocation at Wakiso Central Daily Market.

The intervention follows complaints relating to alleged extortion, irregular allocation of stalls, loss of trading spaces to new entrants, multiple stall ownership and other grievances arising from the relocation of vendors to temporary structures to facilitate the construction of a modern market.

The committee brings together officials from the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) Programme under the Ministry of Kampala City and Metropolitan Affairs, the Ministry of Local Government, Wakiso District Local Government, the Office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and security agencies. The committee has been directed to commence work immediately and undertake a comprehensive review of the grievances.

The Government’s intervention follows concerns raised by vendors and brought to the attention of the Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Balaam Barugahara, who spearheaded measures to restore order and safeguard the interests of genuine vendors. These measures included facilitating the election of new market leadership, directing relevant authorities to investigate allegations of individuals collecting money from vendors in exchange for stalls, and calling for a structured mechanism to address stall allocation grievances.

During a stakeholder engagement, vendors raised concerns over the alleged allocation of stalls to unknown persons, multiple stall ownership, the exclusion of some genuine traders, alleged extortion by individuals purporting to facilitate stall allocation, and circumstances surrounding the removal of former market leaders.

The Under Secretary, Ministry of Kampala City and Metropolitan Affairs, Ms. Monica Edemacu, assured vendors that their concerns would be addressed through established Government mechanisms. She urged all stakeholders to remain calm, avoid confrontation and cooperate with the grievance redress process.

The technical committee comprises Mr. Sseryanzi Lameck, Social Safeguard Specialist, GKMA Programme; Mr. Fred Tumwebaze, Local Economic Development Government Specialist, GKMA Programme; Mr. Godfrey Kiiza Rwakijuma, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Wakiso District; and representatives from the Ministry of Local Government, the Office of the RDC Wakiso and the DISO’s Office.

Ms. Edemacu called upon vendors to provide accurate information and supporting evidence to enable the committee to verify and resolve complaints fairly, transparently and expeditiously. She also cautioned stakeholders against misinformation and unsubstantiated allegations.

The Wakiso District Vice Chairperson, Mr. Ssentalo Sinancio Musambwa, urged stakeholders to separate politics from development and called for investigations into allegations that some youths had forcefully taken stalls from elderly women, as well as the circumstances surrounding the removal of former market leaders.

RDC Wakiso, Ms. Justine Mbabazi, cautioned vendors and other stakeholders against violence, intimidation, disorder and any actions that could interfere with the committee’s work.

Government remains committed to ensuring that Wakiso Central Market develops into a modern, organized and sustainable trading facility while safeguarding the legitimate interests of affected vendors.

All traders have therefore been urged to remain calm and channel their grievances through the established grievance redress mechanism as the committee undertakes the review.