[Onthebarricades] UGANDA: Traders clash with police over land grab

[Andy]

Traders resisted a social cleansing effort in which stalls were razed in 
Kampala, eventually forcing concessions from the state in the arrangement of 
the rebuilt market.  Traders are opposed to the leasing of the market to a 
private firm and its cleanup in advance of a Commonwealth summit, which they 
fear will lead to their being pushed out.  One trader was killed by police 
during the unrest.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/585418

Man killed in traders riot Thursday, 6th September, 2007
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Residents carry Ssebowa who was shot during the riots in Nansana. He died on 
arrival at Mulago Hospital

By Nicholas Kajoba

A BUILDER was yesterday shot dead during a riot in Nansana town council, a 
suburb of Kampala, as enforcement officials razed roadside stalls and 
makeshift markets at dawn.

Richard Ssebowa was shot in the chest by a special Police constable, whom 
witnesses identified as Agaba. Ssebowa died moments after arrival at Mulago 
Hospital at around 11:00am.

Officials said the "clean-up" was part of the programme to make roads 
beautiful ahead of the Commonwealth summit in November.

The exercise kicked off early in the morning. When the traders reported to 
work, they were shocked to find most of their structures had been destroyed. 
They protested to the town council authorities, arguing that they had not 
been notified of the operation. However, the crackdown continued despite 
their pleas, which incensed them. The crowd grew bigger and more enraged 
with time.

Sensing danger, the officials called in the Police from the nearby Nansana 
Police post, who arrived in time to stop the charging crowd.

In an effort to disperse the traders, the Police constables shot in the air. 
A stray bullet killed Ssebowa.

In the melee that ensued, the officials fled but the traders gave chase, 
pelting them with stones. Window panes of neighbouring buildings were 
shattered. The town council offices remained under tight Police guard.

The situation only calmed down when more Police from Kampala, led by the 
commissioner of Police in-charge of operations, Grace Turyagumanawe, were 
deployed at the scene.

Kampala Extra police chief Edward Ochom regretted the incident. The 
constable who shot the builder would face the law, he said. He blamed the 
officials for carrying out the demolition without alerting the Police.

"They told us later when they saw that the crowd was growing bigger," Ochom 
said.

Moses Muwawu, who lost a kiosk, blamed the Police for shooting live bullets 
at the crowd. "We asked them why they were breaking our structures without 
informing us in time. But they instead called the Police."

Nansana mayor Moses Nsubuga Wandyaka was holed up in his office as the chaos 
raged. He only left under Police escort. Wakiso district chairman Ian 
Kyeyune called for calm.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/586003

Kisekka Market riot rocks Kampala Monday, 10th September, 2007
By Herbert Ssempogo
and Florence Nakaayi

BUSINESS at Kisseka Market in Kampala came to a standstill yesterday 
afternoon as traders rioted over the plan to lease the market to a 
consortium. In May this year, Kampala City Council approved to lease the 
market to Rhino Investments and the vendors association, New Nakivubo Road 
Market Vendors Association.

But another group of vendors, Nakivubo Road Old Kampala (Kisekka) Market 
Vendors, protested the move.

The rowdy traders, who demanded audience with city authorities, lit bonfires 
in the middle of Kyaggwe Road, making it impassable as the 2:00pm riot 
intensified.
Bonfires were also lit in the small alleys running through the market famous 
for second-hand vehicle spare parts.

Thick black smoke and heat engulfed the area as traders set huge tyres on 
fire.
"We want Sebaggala (the mayor) and Kijjambu (the town clerk)," the 
male-dominated mob chanted as they patrolled the streets.

"There was a lot of chaos by the time I got out of our shop. All shops were 
closed and people were running everywhere," one of the traders narrated.

Earlier, traders in the market and neighbouring areas hurriedly locked their 
shops as the riot gained momentum.
The Police dispersed the riotous traders with teargas and volleys of shots, 
sending many scampering for safety in nearby buildings.

Fire fighters rushed to the scene to extinguish the raging fire from the 
tyres.
The Police acting director of operations, Grace Turyagumawe, addressed the 
incensed traders moments after the situation normalised.

"I asked the traders' committee to forward their grievances to the city 
authorities. They should use peaceful means to solve their grievances 
instead of resorting to hooliganism."

According to Turyagumanawe, the town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu, will meet the 
vendors on Thursday.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200709130351.html

Uganda: Police, Traders Agree On Truce

New Vision (Kampala)
12 September 2007
Posted to the web 13 September 2007
Herbert Ssempogo And Florence Nakaayi
Kampala
THE Police and rioting traders at Kisekka market in Kampala yesterday agreed 
on a truce ending today at 2:00pm. The end to the running battles followed 
the intervention of the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale 
Kayihura, in the row between the traders and city authorities over 
management of the market.
"I appeal to you to end these battles. We are friends but we are now running 
after each other," Kayihura pleaded.

Some traders at the market in downtown Kampala are opposed to the city 
authorities' decision to lease the market to Rhino Investments and the New 
Nakivubo Road Market Vendors' Association. Another group of vendors, the 
Nakivubo Road Old Kampala (Kisekka) Market Vendors, however claim the latter 
do not represent their interests.
The acting town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu, yesterday told journalists that 
Kampala City Council decided to lease the market considering the vendors' 
interests. The traders identified Rhino as a development partner.
Mayor Nasser Sebaggala added that the vendors from the new market 
association would develop one-and-a half acres of the land while Rhino 
shares 2.2 acres, as agreed with vendors' management. The entire land was 
leased at sh1.52b as premium and sh76m as ground rent.
Addressing hundreds of traders that gathered at Ramgharia Sikh Primary 
School, Kayihura said: "My office is open. You can come in anytime so that 
we resolve your grievances. You should now open your shops."
Kayihura received a hero's welcome from some vendors but as he approached 
the school, men perched atop buildings, hurled bottles and stones at him but 
he did not flinch.
He promised to ensure that city authorities meets the traders today at 
midday.
Ssebagala invited the traders for a meeting today at the City Hall but they 
insisted he meet them at the market.
Kayihura reiterated President Yoweri Museveni's earlier statements that 
traders should be given priority as the markets are redeveloped, adding that 
the Cabinet resolved that city authorities should not lease city markets 
without the traders' consent.
Before Kayihura's intervention, the rowdy traders burnt tyres along sections 
of Kyaggwe and Nakivubo Road, which were also barricaded.
Kampala's horizon was covered by the thick black smoke emitting from the 
burning tyres.
As the chaos intensified, the water canon truck and anti-riot Police atop 
Land Cruisers arrived, sending many into hiding.
The Policemen fired several teargas canisters into the air to disperse the 
crowd but the traders returned later and pelted them with stones and 
bottles.
One of the windscreens of the water canon truck was shattered by a stone 
hurled by a trader.
By press time, fire officers were clearing the charred tyres off the roads.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200709120028.html

Uganda: Gunfire, Teargas Paralyse Kampala Again

New Vision (Kampala)
11 September 2007
Posted to the web 12 September 2007
Herbert Ssempogo and Florence Nakaayi
Kampala
FOR the second day yesterday, the Police and traders at Kisekka market 
fought running battles, paralysing several parts of downtown Kampala. Chaos 
at the market, which is at the centre of a management row between traders 
and city authorities, broke out again at 10:00am.
A trader, Frank Sserugo, said the chaos was sparked off by city mayor Nasser 
Sebaggala's statements on an FM radio that the traders did not have enough 
money to develop the market.
Sserugo said the irate traders set heaps of tyres on fire, forcing traders 
to lock up their shops.
Security officers and special Police constables in vain tried to stop the 
violence.
Frustrated by the rowdy traders, two Police officers fired several shots in 
the air in an attempt to disperse the crowd. But fellow officers disarmed 
them and took them to the Kampala Central Police Station.
Some traders, enraged by the gunfire, started pelting the Police with 
stones, prompting some of them to take refuge. Others torched more tyres, 
causing thick clouds of smoke to cover the market area.
The Police closed down Kyaggwe Road and William Street as several anti-riot 
police officers, backed by a water canon truck, arrived at the scene and 
swung into action.
Many rioters fled, while others squatted as the anti- riot team fired 
teargas.
Fire officers extinguished the bonfires after which the water canon truck 
shoved away the charred tyres.
The acting commandant of the Mobile Police Patrol Unit, Christopher Abache, 
later appealed to the traders to go back to work.
"My concern is that you are blocking the road. You are affecting the 
traffic."
But the traders booed him down, insisting that they wanted to talk to the 
mayor and the town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu.
"Those two know our problems," one of them bellowed, warning that they would 
not give in. They later taunted the Police as they marched along the road to 
the market.
The tense situation turned comic when a daring man walked on stilts and 
gleefully waved at the traders, who handed him a placard that read: Twagala 
Meeya (we want the mayor).
His time in the limelight ended quickly when the Police sprayed him with 
teargas.
By press time, the situation had normalised. A few traders were even 
exchanging pleasantries with the police. "You lose money when you continue 
rioting. You should open your shops," a policeman advised.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200709110481.html

Uganda: Kisekka Market Riot Rocks Kampala

New Vision (Kampala)
10 September 2007
Posted to the web 11 September 2007
Herbert Ssempogo And Florence Nakaayi
Kampala
BUSINESS at Kisseka Market in Kampala came to a standstill yesterday 
afternoon as traders rioted over the plan to lease the market to a 
consortium. In May this year, Kampala City Council approved to lease the 
market to Rhino Investments and the vendors association, New Nakivubo Road 
Market Vendors Association.
But another group of vendors, Nakivubo Road Old Kampala (Kisekka) Market 
Vendors, protested the move.

The rowdy traders, who demanded audience with city authorities, lit bonfires 
in the middle of Kyaggwe Road, making it impassable as the 2:00pm riot 
intensified.
Bonfires were also lit in the small alleys running through the market famous 
for second-hand vehicle spare parts.
Thick black smoke and heat engulfed the area as traders set huge tyres on 
fire.
"We want Sebaggala (the mayor) and Kijjambu (the town clerk)," the 
male-dominated mob chanted as they patrolled the streets.
"There was a lot of chaos by the time I got out of our shop. All shops were 
closed and people were running everywhere," one of the traders narrated.
Earlier, traders in the market and neighbouring areas hurriedly locked their 
shops as the riot gained momentum.
The Police dispersed the riotous traders with teargas and volleys of shots, 
sending many scampering for safety in nearby buildings.
Fire fighters rushed to the scene to extinguish the raging fire from the 
tyres.



The Police acting director of operations, Grace Turyagumawe, addressed the 
incensed traders moments after the situation normalised.
"I asked the traders' committee to forward their grievances to the city 
authorities. They should use peaceful means to solve their grievances 
instead of resorting to hooliganism."
According to Turyagumanawe, the town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu, will meet the 
vendors on Thursday.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200709140057.html

Uganda: Emotions Run High as Kisekka Market Re-Opens

New Vision (Kampala)
13 September 2007
Posted to the web 14 September 2007
Steven Candia, Herbert Ssempogo and Florence Nakaayi
Kampala
AMIDST song and dance, ecstatic Kisekka market traders yesterday dropped 
padlocks from their shop doors as business resumed after three days of riots 
that had paralysed down town Kampala.
The move followed a meeting with the local government state minister, Hope 
Mwesigye, in which she assured the traders that no one would take the market 
from them.

With the announcement, the ecstatic traders shook to music by local 
artistes; Ronald and Jose Chameleon, as padlocks fell and doors flung open.
Mwesigye said the process of leasing the market to other players, which 
sparked off the riots, was flawed.
Delivering a speech in Luganda, occasionally punctuated with applause, 
Mwesigye assured the traders that there was no way mayor Nasser Ssebagala 
and town clerk Ruth Kijjambu, could be above the Central Government. The two 
were accused of leasing the market to private developers.
She said the town clerk, who was under her ministry, had since morning 
ignored all her phone calls.
"Priority should be given to sitting tenants so that they redevelop the 
market. They could also look for an investor so that it is a joint venture," 
Mwesigye said to an applause from traders, some of whom brandished placards.
She said there was an option of the Government helping the vendors redevelop 
the market.
Asked whether her ministry would order city authorities to revoke the lease, 
she said: "That is their business. It was a mistake."
The Government, she said, had formulated a policy for the development of 
markets following numerous wrangles in the city.
She promised to meet the 14-member executive of the Nakivubo Road Old 
Kampala (Kisekka) Market Vendors Ltd today at 10:00am.
The association is against the leasing of the market to Rhino Investments 
and New Nakivubo Road Market Vendors Association.
The Nakivubo Road Old Kampala (Kisekka) Market Vendors boss ,Robert Kisembo, 
said they had developed a "concept plan" of developing the market at a cost 
of $16m. He appealed to the traders to stay calm as "we work with the 
minister's office."
Earlier the Kampala resident district commissioner, Stanley Kinyatta, had 
told the traders that the market would not be taken away from them.
The meeting was attended by the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale 
Kayihura, who called for peace and the area MP, Erias Lukwago, who hoped 
that a lasting solution would be found to the saga.
But as all this unfolded, a planned meeting between the city authorities and 
the vendors at City Hall was postponed indefinitely, though the district 
council stood by its earlier decision of leasing the market to the New 
Nakivubo Road Market Vendors Association and Rhino Investments.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200709130012.html

Uganda: KCC Must Come Out Clear On Markets

The Monitor (Kampala)
EDITORIAL
13 September 2007
Posted to the web 13 September 2007
Kampala
For a third day yesterday, police and traders at Kisekka Market in Kampala 
fought running battles, paralysing business in several parts of the city. 
Ugandans were again awakened to SMS news alerts, "Kyagwe and Nabugabo roads 
closed as Kisseka Market vendors continue striking and burning tyres in the 
road. Anti-riot police deployed..."
The friction surrounding markets in Kampala is generally degenerating into a 
crisis and threatening to get out of control. As the Kisekka Market riots 
continue, the report on how the sale or lease of another controversial 
market, Nakasero, was handled is also yet to be released. There are several 
shortcomings on the part of Kampala City Council management generally.

The traders in Kisekka Market claim they have a valid tenancy lease running 
until 2011. They claim that without their knowledge, KCC authorities granted 
a separate lease for part of the already leased market, to another 
developer. There seems to be a growing sequence of controversies regarding 
the lease or sale of markets across the city and the problem is steadily 
widening. In the middle of these controversies and riots stands KCC.
The city council has muddled itself in so much dirt over the markets that 
now the council's move, however good-intentioned it may be, appears like a 
big syndicate to dispose of the markets as urgently and dubiously as 
possible at the expense of public interest.
The KCC management must come out clearly and extricate itself from this 
quagmire by explaining properly how the markets are leased or sold. One day 
it's a riot over Natete Market, another day it's Nakasero Market, 
Shauriyako, then Kisekka and tomorrow you will hear Nakawa, Makindye, etc. 
This must stop.
If a market is to be leased, KCC should advertise the tenders, clearly 
stipulating the requirements for qualifying for the tender so that the 
process is transparent. That will cure the problem.
The secret awarding of the market tenders without the knowledge of the 
stakeholders is bound to always breed riots. KCC's intransigence smacks of 
corruption, incompetence and influence peddling in the markets tendering 
process.
We cannot afford to have incessant riots at a time when the country is about 
to host one of the world's most prestigious summits, the Commonwealth 
meeting, among whose key etiquettes include good governance and peace.