Kyenjojo District leaders have today visited Butiiti Town Council to find a solution to the growing rows following the handover of the stalls and lock ups at the market in Mukunyu.

The market, which has 28 lock ups and 96stalls, sits on a 2acres piece of land, in Mukunyu trading center. It was constructed under the AGRI-LED Program, supervised by NAADS Secretariat, and Ministry of Local Government, at a cost of 1.7bn by TAMA TAMA contactors.  The market was handed over to Butiiti Town Council on 8^th January 2025, but has since faced challenges, and infightings.

 A view of the newly constructed Mukunyu market, in Mukunyu town, Butiiti Town Council.

 An inside view of the Mukunyu market stalls

Among the challenges were the market being too small to accommodate the entire vendors’ community, which resulted in 2-3 vendors sharing a stall, extortion of bonafide owners of stalls and lockups, and the market not being operational despite the fact it was completed and handed over. It was also alleged, that some stalls and lockups were owned by civil servants, and yet was constructed to serve the common person, and some stalls were owned by Boda Boda operators at the expense of the original occupants, the vendors.

A delegation led by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Mr Amis Asuman Masereka, and District Chairperson, Mr. Gilbert Rubaihayo, visited the market on a fact finding mission to ascertain these allegations, and offer solutions to the aggrieved vendors, and later met the vendors and business community at Mukunyu Church for a dialogue.

 The CAO, Mr. Amis Asuman Masereka (standing) addresses the vendors in the company of some district Officials.

It was however realized in the meeting, that when construction started, first priority registration was given to the original vendors, who were asked to pay 50,000 for the stalls, and 5,000,000= for the lockups if interested, for a 49year lease, as passed by Butiiti Town Council, but they were slow to accept the idea, and some rejected, prompting the idea to be open to all interested parties. That is how the Boda Boda operators came to own stalls in the market.

It was also realized that Mukunyu market has always been a seasonal market, operating on Thursdays, thus the allegation that it wasn’t operational was not true. The vendors also said the allegation that some stalls and lockups were owned by civil servants isn’t true as no civil servant could be singled out.

The CAO however, promised to compile a report and send to higher authorities for further action. He also tasked the Town Council authorities to avail his office the necessary documents including the leasing agreements for further scrutiny. He also called upon the vendors to coexist peacefully as the tabled issues are looked into.

 The District Chairperson, Mr. Gilbert Rubaihayo, adrresses the meeting.

The District Chairperson, assured the vendors that all their issues would be looked into, and addressed, and the right decisions made for the good of the area. He also promised to see to it that at the designated days, the market would always be operational without any trouble. He requested anyone with any other grievance not addressed to visit the available offices for redress and support, with the end result being the vendor getting out of poverty. He further called upon pubic officers to seek guidance from their supervisors in order to avoid any mistakes.

The meeting between the district officials and Mukunyu market vendors, at Mukunyu Church.