Kampala Minister tasked to investigate the mismanagement engulfing Wandegeya market
- FEATUREDNEWS
- October 28, 2022
- No Comment
By Evans Najuna
Kampala – President Museveni tasked the minister for Kampala capital city and metropolitan area Hajjat Minsa Kabanda to expedite the investigations into the mismanagement of Wandegeya market.
The president’s directive follows several complaints that the president received regarding the mismanagement of the market including gross irregularities in the allocation of market stalls by KCCA officials, creation of landlords in the market, multiple ownership of stalls, exorbitant fares being levied by “landlords” in the market.
He then tasked the anti-corruption unit under his office to investigate the allegations that were reported to him. According to a letter dated 20th September, addressed to the minister and copied to; the Prime Minister, Attorney General, minister for local government, Director of Public Prosecutions executive director, Kampala City Council Authority, and State House anti-corruption unit, the Museveni said:
“Government markets were meant to assist low income earners to improve their household incomes, create employment and also generate revenue for Government. However, because of the corruption of government officials, all the irregularities mentioned above were committed.
The president further directed the minister on several issues and among which included the issue of landlords in a government-owned which he says should stop with immediate effect.
He added that Kabanda should liaise with the Attorney General for advice on the possibility of terminating the memorandum of understanding that government signed with the former landlords currently at the market, given that the facts available that point to possible breaches on their side.
Museveni directed that if the termination will pose legal challenges and unnecessary costs to government, they should not be renewed once the term expires in 2024.
Concerning the management of the market, the president directed that, members of the interim management committee and allocation committee who were involved in mismanaging the market, and allocating spaces to themselves should step aside immediately and be prosecuted.
Those who have since left office but were involved in mismanaging the market should also be prosecuted. The president also directed that, all KCCA officials and local government officials who were involved in allocating stalls to themselves like Esau Galinkadde and Harriet Mudondo who acted irregularly in the allocation process should be prosecuted, and those still occupying offices should be interdicted.
The president also expressed concern about unemployment and the low income earners, and directed that KCCA should revisit the allocation guidelines and processes with a view of attracting the unemployed people and low income earners into the market and create an enabling environment for them to operate.
He added that, the issue of landlords existing in the market and charging traders exorbitantly should stop forthwith as per the earlier directive. “Why should a consent judgment be executed allowing individuals to extort money from traders who were meant to benefit from the market? Isn’t that corruption?” he questioned.
On whether it is true that commercial spaces that were meant to accommodate a bank, pharmacy, etc did not attract customers when they were advertised, Museveni says the spaces should be redesigned to accommodate other traders dealing in other products and services instead of keeping the spaces locked or being misused.
Regarding the issue of unallocated stalls, Museveni said that the minister should work with her technical people to ascertain why they are not being taken up and yet there are traders who lack space where to operate from and end up working on verandahs and other ungazetted places in the center hence, creating unnecessary congestion.
“Could it be that the fee charged is high, are there no other amenities that would attract them to the market etc.?” he added.
on the issue of landlords and KCCA officials who have been using the market and not remitting revenue to government, the president gave the minister two weeks to report to him about actions that have taken effect.