Mukono modern market construction in Uganda has stalled because of a lack of sufficient land. Reportedly, the project requires a total of two acres of land. However, the main market for the municipality, Kame Valley Market, currently occupies a space of close to one acre.
This came to light when the municipality presented the necessary documents, including a land title, to the Ministry of Local Government for scrutiny. Following the review of the documents, the municipality would benefit from the Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme (MATIP). The latter is financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), a multilateral development finance institution headquartered in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
In light of the land insufficiency, Majerani Luboyera, the deputy town clerk said that the municipality has two months to submit a response to the ministry. According to local news outlets, municipal authorities have begun approaching people with property next to the market. The aim is to ask them to donate land where the proposed Mukono modern market will be constructed.
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Other challenges the municipality is facing ahead of the development of Mukono modern market
In addition to the lack of sufficient land, the municipality is facing some other challenges ahead of the start of the Mukono modern market construction project. These challenges include uncertainty on where to relocate vendors when the implementation of the project begins.
Reportedly, there are over 300 stalls in the Kame Valley Market that sell fish, poultry, agricultural commodities, and animal products. The market is most known for supporting smaller markets that sell products in different areas of the municipality.
Traders have said that they are unwilling to make way for the construction of the proposed Mukono modern market. Led by Alex Kivumbi, they said this is especially if they will not be assurances of a temporary working area.
