Mbale City, Uganda – Law enforcement officers in Mbale City were left in disbelief on Thursday after discovering that Moses Musayi, the chairperson of Bugwere Market, had converted four market stalls meant for street vendors into cattle shelters and rental accommodations.
The enforcement team, led by Mike Wakou, acted on a tip-off from the media, which revealed that the stalls had been repurposed to house cows and provide lodging for market vendors. Upon arriving at Bugwere Market, located along Bugwere Road in the Industrial City Division, the team found that the cows had already been taken out for grazing. However, vendors directed them to the stalls where the animals were kept, revealing a scene filled with cow dung and a foul stench that made the area uninhabitable for business.
“The place is full of cow dung and smells so bad that no vendor can operate under such conditions,” one vendor, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, told the enforcement team and accompanying journalists. The vendors alleged that the cows belonged to the market chairperson, Moses Musayi.
An visibly angry Mike Wakou, the leader of the enforcement team, immediately called Musayi, demanding that he come to the market to explain why cows were being kept in stalls meant for vendors. After repeated calls, Musayi, who had been in hiding, finally appeared an hour later. Under pressure, he struggled to justify why his cows were occupying market stalls while vendors were left to flood the streets, causing chaos.
Vendors Decry Poor Hygiene and Declining Sales
The shocking discovery of cattle in the market stalls is just one of the many issues plaguing Bugwere Market. Food vendors have long complained about the poor hygiene in the market, which they say has driven away customers due to the overwhelming stench of uncollected garbage.
Robert Tusiime, a tomato vendor, expressed his frustration, stating, “We have been complaining about the stench in the market and how it is scaring away customers, but no solution has ever been given. The division leadership used to collect garbage until they stopped about a month ago. Now, with the rainy season, the situation has become even worse.”
Oliva Kemigisa, another vendor, lamented that they pay daily fees for garbage collection but see no improvement. “We suffer from the stench, and our children are at risk of infections. Even we vendors are falling sick from the bad smell,” she said.
George William Ssekanjago, who deals in fresh produce, highlighted the additional challenges posed by the rainy season. “When it rains, the market becomes muddy, and floods destroy our produce. This poses a serious health risk to both us and our customers,” he said.
Market Chairperson Blames City Authorities
Moses Musayi, the market chairperson, acknowledged the dire state of the market, stating that it exposes vendors and customers to diseases like dysentery and cholera. He claimed to have raised the issue with Fort Portal City authorities but has yet to receive a response.
Godfrey Mugisa, the acting Mbale City Industrial Division Clerk, admitted that garbage collection has become a significant challenge due to a lack of funds. “Managing garbage collection has become an issue because we don’t have enough money to repair the garbage trucks. We are doing our best, but the budget is overstretched,” he said.
Mugisa appealed to the public to bear with the city leadership, citing the harsh economic conditions. “We hope that in the future, things will improve. In the meantime, we urge residents to keep their garbage in sacks instead of throwing it on the streets,” he added.
A Call for Immediate Action
The situation at Bugwere Market highlights the urgent need for intervention from both local authorities and market leadership. Vendors, who are already struggling to make ends meet, are now facing additional challenges due to the unhygienic conditions and lack of proper market management.
As the city grapples with limited resources, stakeholders are calling for innovative solutions to address the garbage crisis and restore order in the market. For now, the vendors of Bugwere Market continue to endure the stench and chaos, hoping for a day when their pleas for a cleaner, safer market will finally be heard.
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