Kabale — There was jubilation, tears of joy and ululation in Kabale Central Market today as Hon. Balaam returned for the third day, not for inspection, but to officially hand over ownership to the oppressed vendors.
This time, Hon. Balaam came with contracts.
For years, Kabale Central Market built by government to empower low-income vendors — had been hijacked by a cartel of absentee landlords. Government gazetted rates were Shs 80,000 per month for a lock-up and Shs 120,000 per year for a stall, payable directly to Kabale Municipality. But on the ground, vendors were paying up to Shs 5 million per year to private individuals through middlemen.
The Minister had on Friday blown the lid off the cartel and declared: “There are no landlords in a government markets. Kabale Municipality is the only landlord.”
Hon. Balaam, flanked by the Ms. Winnie Twine (Deputy Presidential Advisor on Markets), Mr. Julius Masereka (Principal Urban Officer @ MoLG), Municipal Town Clerk and security team, presided over the official signing of allocation contracts between Kabale Municipal Council and over 100 vendors who for years had been paying rent to cartels.
“You were tenants of thieves, today you are proud owners of your shops,” Hon. Balaam told the cheering crowd. “President Museveni built this market for you, not for absentee landlords in Kampala. No one will ever collect rent from you again.” Hon. Balaam said.
The minister warned the Municipal officials that any officer who attempts to reintroduce landlords will be arrested. He also directed that the remaining closed lock-ups be opened and allocated to genuine vendors on the waiting list, and that no one should own more than one stall.
