MICHAEL N
Vendors in Ntungamo Central Market have raised alarm over escalating garbage, which they attribute to negligence by the municipal council. They say the situation is putting both vendors and customers at risk of disease outbreaks.
Joy Kasande, a vendor who has been selling charcoal for over 10 years in the market, blames poor sanitation on the municipal council’s decision to remove garbage collection bins. She says authorities claimed a private company had been contracted to collect garbage daily, but this has not been effective. Kasande notes that the market hosts butchers and vegetable vendors who generate large amounts of waste.
Joanita Tukamushaba says the increase in garbage is due to the lack of designated collection centers. She explains that some meat sellers dump leftovers and pour wastewater from cleaning intestines into heaps of onion and tomato waste, creating a foul smell across the market.
Another vendor, Caroline Kyarisima, highlighted that during rainy periods, the market floods, creating slippery conditions mixed with sewage. She adds that wastewater from washing utensils by restaurant and butcher operators worsens the situation. Caroline also points out that the market is not cemented and lacks proper drainage systems to channel away stagnant water.
Loyce Mbabazi, a fruit vendor, attributes the garbage problem to congestion in the market. She explains that many vendors no longer operate from designated stalls but instead display their goods in open spaces to attract customers and prevent spoilage. She has appealed to the municipal council to collect garbage at least three times a week to reduce the bad odor and the increasing number of flies.
Meanwhile, Ntungamo Municipality Mayor Jacob Kafureeka, also known as Jack Jex, acknowledged the concerns, noting that while authorities make efforts to clean the market, its poor state remains a challenge. He says the municipal council plans to strengthen daily garbage collection efforts and is looking forward to constructing a modern market in the next financial year.
