Minister Magyezi Approves New Charging Policy for Kabale Central Market amidst Vendor Dispute

Summary:

• Under the new policy, vendors operating pitches, fish dealers, and chicken dealers will be subject to a local revenue tax of 15,000 shillings, while butchers will be charged 150,000 shillings. Lock-ups located on the ground floor will face charges ranging from 100,000 to 150,000 shillings, among other fees.

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KABALE: The Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, has approved a new charging policy aimed at guiding the Kabale Municipal Council in collecting local revenue fees from vendors operating in the Kabale Central Market.

Magyezi announced this decision during his two-day visit to Kabale, where he engaged with vendors in the municipal market.

The purpose of Magyezi’s visit, which concluded on Monday morning, was to address reported irregularities in the allocation of market spaces following the completion of the market last year. Minister Magyezi emphasized that the new charging policy, slated to come into effect on June 1, 2024, is intended to generate local revenue to cover utility bills such as electricity, water, and security.

Under the new policy, vendors operating pitches, fish dealers, and chicken dealers will be subject to a local revenue tax of 15,000 shillings, while butchers will be charged 150,000 shillings. Lock-ups located on the ground floor will face charges ranging from 100,000 to 150,000 shillings, among other fees.

CUE IN MAGYEZI……ON TAX POLICY……RR/ENG//

Magyezi also stressed the importance of fair allocation of market spaces and revealed government plans to engage with vendors who previously occupied the market for forty-nine years to ensure fairness. He clarified that the new market guidelines do not accommodate vendors who claimed to be landlords, asserting that the government, through the Kabale Municipal Council, is the rightful owner of the market.

CUE IN MAGYEZI…..ON LANDLORDS…ENG//

Despite these developments, Rev. Canon Jack Katarishangwa, Chairperson of the Kabale Central Market Lock-Up Owners Association, urged the government to consider their investment, emphasizing their financial contributions since securing occupation permits in 1989. He advocated for the government to honor their permits by providing lock-ups until the completion of their agreed-upon lease terms.

CUE IN JACK……ON LOCK UPS…RR/ENG//

Meanwhile, approximately 290 vendors filed a petition last year against the Kabale Municipal Council and the Attorney General, contesting the new market guidelines. The case is scheduled for a verdict on August 28, 2024.