Summary:
- The vendors claim that the municipal authorities began collecting rent and license fees without signed tenancy agreements or clear assessments.
KABALE: Kabale Central Market vendors on Wednesday closed their stalls and stormed the Kabale Municipal Offices in protest over what they called unfair occupancy rent charges and license taxation.
Led by Henry Kamugisha, Spiridon Byamugisha, Christine Mutoni, Peninah Nabimanya, and Gloria Kyomuhangi, over 200 vendors accused the municipal authorities of forcefully charging occupancy rent for the past year and a half, which had been designated as a grace period by the Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magezi. This period was meant for harmonizing the alleged gross corruption that marred the space allocation in the market last year.
The vendors also claimed that the municipal authorities began collecting rent and license fees without signed tenancy agreements or clear assessments. They demanded an explanation for why their stalls were being sealed for non-payment of rent and licenses without clear guidelines on how and when to start paying market dues.
CUE IN VENDORS…….ON PROTEST……RR//
However, Security personnel, led by Kabale District Police Commander Joseph Bakaleke and Resident District Commissioner Godfrey Nyakahuma, foiled the protest and advised the vendors to follow proper procedures for holding peaceful demonstrations.
CUE IN BAKALEKE……ON VENDORS…LUG//
Kabale Municipal Mayor Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha addressed the vendors, stating that after a brief internal meeting with Technical Staff led by Town Clerk Justine Barekye, they resolved to conduct an assessment before charging market dues. This assessment will determine the appropriate fees for each category of vendors based on their market location.
CUE IN SENTARO……ON VENDORS……RR/ENG//
