NELSON K
Rukungiri Municipal Council on Tuesday resolved to expel street vendors operating at Ntungamo Stage and Nankulabye Street within Rukungiri Municipality. This decision followed repeated warnings to the vendors, citing poor sanitation and non-compliance with council directives, such as the restriction to operate only during nighttime.
Benson Tukahebwa, a chapati vendor in the area, told our reporter that the council’s decision was prompted by persistent issues of poor sanitation and the vendors’ refusal to adhere to operational restrictions.
Benson further explained that vendors, particularly those selling chapatis, had failed to maintain proper sanitation standards. They allegedly dumped garbage at Turyamutunga Lawrence’s agricultural pharmacy, especially after the council introduced a new garbage collection system managed by Homeklin.
On Monday, December 30th, municipal health officers issued a final warning to the vendors during an evening visit. However, the vendors were found operating despite earlier notices, prompting the council to delay the expulsion until yesterday. On Tuesday morning, council officials confiscated the vendors’ tables and timber structures after they refused to vacate the area.
Turyamutunga Lawrence, a veterinary officer and owner of the agricultural pharmacy near Nankulabye Street, confirmed to our reporter that vendors frequently dumped garbage on his premises despite his efforts to keep the area clean. He condemned the behavior as unacceptable and a major contributor to poor sanitation in the area.
However, Mukama Arnold, another chapati vendor and the defense chairperson for the vendors, expressed dissatisfaction with the council’s actions. In an interview, Arnold claimed the vendors were ambushed by health officials and accused of violating rules. He noted that similar expulsions had occurred in the past, such as their removal from an area near Hot Pot Hotel at Ntungamo Stage. Arnold alleged corruption and bribery within the council, suggesting these actions were influenced by prominent entrepreneurs.
Arnold also argued that other groups, including taxi and boda boda operators, contributed to garbage dumping in the area. As the vendors’ defense chairperson, he appealed to the council to allocate them an alternative location. He assured the council that vendors were willing to comply with tax regulations and maintain proper sanitation standards.
Currently, the vendors are stranded and unable to operate following the expulsion.
Julius Arineitwe, the Municipal Health Officer, confirmed to our reporter that the vendors were expelled due to their failure to maintain proper sanitation and their non-compliance with the council’s directive to operate only at night.
Arineitwe referred our reporter to Aidah Namirembe, the Municipal Principal Health Officer, for further details. However, attempts to reach Namirembe were unsuccessful as she was traveling to Kampala at the time of contact.
