Staff Reporter
Vendors from Kabale Central Market on Wednesday closed their stalls and stormed the Kabale Municipal Offices, protesting 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 municipal authorities of forcefully charging occupancy rent over the past year and a half, despite a grace period designated by the Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magezi. This grace period was intended to address the alleged corruption in last year’s market space allocation.
The vendors also claimed that municipal authorities began collecting rent and license fees without signed tenancy agreements or clear assessments. They demanded clarification on why their stalls were being sealed for non-payment of rent and licenses without clear guidelines on market dues payment.
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.
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 appropriate fees for each category of vendors based on their market location.
