Summary:
- Kabale Municipal Mayor Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha told our reporter that after discussions with the Municipal Technical Leadership, it was resolved that vendors could pay rent at their discretion, based on what each vendor can afford per month.
KABALE: Authorities in Kabale Municipality have revoked their decision requiring vendors in the Kabale Central Market to prepay occupancy rent for the entire financial year in advance.
The revocation follows a peaceful demonstration today by vendors, who marched to the Municipal Offices to protest what they called “unfair” occupancy rent charges and license taxation. The vendors, including Jacenta Tumusiime, Charity Asiimwe, Silver Bamuhiga, Henry Kamugisha, Spiridon Byamugisha, Christine Mutoni, Peninah Nabimanya, and Gloria Kyomuhangi, argued that they are small-scale vendors and cannot afford to pay rent for the entire year upfront.
They also accused the Municipal Authorities of collecting rent and license fees for spaces without signed tenancy agreements and proper assessments.
CUE IN VENDORS……ON PRE-PAYMENT…RR//
Kabale Municipal Mayor Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha told our reporter that after discussions with the Municipal Technical Leadership, it was resolved that vendors could pay rent at their discretion, based on what each vendor can afford per month.
CUE IN BYAMUGISHA…..ON REVOKING……RR/ENG//
Meanwhile, authorities have also halted their decision to charge occupancy rent for the past year from vendors in Kabale Central Market, despite the Minister for Local Government Raphael Magyezi granting a grace period of one and a half years for the vendors.
The decision follows a protest by vendors against the compulsory and forced payment of 1.8 million shillings for the past year. Vendors claimed that they had been allowed by both the Municipal Authorities and Minister Magyezi to operate without paying occupancy rent until the corruption allegations surrounding space allocation were fully resolved.
Mayor Byamugisha stated that following engagement with the Municipal Technical Leadership, they agreed that vendors would only pay for this month, as ordered by the minister.
CUE IN EMMANUEL…..ON HALTING……RR/ENG//
