Staff Reporter
Bufumbira North Member of Parliament, Hon. Kamara John Nizeyimana, has emerged victorious in his legal battle against Mupaka Town Council regarding disputes over Kamara market.
Hon. Kamara filed a lawsuit against Mupaka Town Council last month, seeking court declarations over what he perceived as unfair treatment by the town council administration and its agencies. His grievances included a disputed market operating license fee of 45 million shillings, restrictions on certain commodities at his privately owned market, and issues related to market dues and taxes collected from vendors.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, His Worship Komakech Kenneth, the Chief Magistrate of Kisoro, referred to the Market Act 2023. He affirmed that individuals have the right to operate private markets upon obtaining authorization from relevant administrative units. The magistrate acknowledged that Hon. Kamara had followed all required procedures and had been duly authorized by Mupaka Town Council, under the leadership of town clerk Ahishakiye Johnson.
Based on the responsibilities outlined in the Market Act 2023 for both private market owners and town clerks, Komakech deemed all of Kamara’s grievances against Mupaka Town Council as unjustified and unlawful. He ordered the town council to refrain from interfering with Kamara’s market operations and to cover the legal costs of the suit. However, the magistrate did not grant the 500 million shillings in damages that Kamara had sought.
In an interview, His Worship Komakech mentioned that copies of the ruling would be published next Monday.
