[Onthebarricades] UGANDA: Unrest over social cleansing of street traders' market

[Andy]

There has been unrest at two separate markets in Kampala, mainly at Kisekka 
Market but also Nakasero.  Kisekka is under dispute between two groups, with 
the government supporting a business deal which would expel many of the 
current traders.  Police started the trouble by trying to send traders away 
from the market.   Traders have repeatedly protested and revolted over 
attempts to "redevelop" the market and transfer it to a private owner.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/611455

City market riot paralyses schools Wednesday, 13th February, 2008
The Police charge at the rioting vendors who had gathered outside their 
shops in Kisekka Market yesterday

By Chris Kiwawulo
and Steven Candia

SEVERAL schools in Kampala were yesterday forced to close as the Police 
battled rioting vendors at Kisekka Market for a second day. Anxious parents 
were seen rushing to Ramgharia Sikh, Muslim Girls and Agakhan Primary School 
to collect their children.

Some pupils were affected by the teargas fired by the Police to disperse the 
rioters. The schools closed their gates to bar rioters from taking refugee 
in their premises.

Yesterday's rioting started at around 10:00am when the Police ordered the 
vendors, who had gathered outside their closed shops, to disperse. "What 
have we done? This is our market," they shouted.

The Police charged at them and started beating them. In retaliation, the 
vendors pelted the officers with stones and hurled insults at them.

The Police fired live ammunition in the air to disperse the rioters. About 
180 policemen, backed by SPCs, had been deployed overnight to guard against 
a recurrence of violence.

Kampala Police boss Edward Ochom rushed to the scene at around 10:30am and 
ordered for the arrest of the police officers who were shooting as he tried 
to broker a truce.

When his mediation efforts failed, the vendors resumed throwing stones, 
while others lit bonfires along Namirembe Road and at the entrance to the 
New Taxi Park, which bellowed thick clouds of smoke.

Ochom then ordered anti-riot Police to disperse the rioters, which they did 
by lobbying teargas canisters and clobbering them. At one point, Ochom 
narrowly missed being hit by a big stone. The military Police, led by Capt. 
Fred Asaba, later beefed up the Police.

A total of 14 people were arrested. They face charges of inciting violence 
and malicious damage to property, said Kampala Extra Police spokesperson 
Simeo Nsubuga. Another three Police officers were arrested for shooting 
without orders.

Yesterday's clash came as the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, in a 
release, condemned the Police for using excessive force to quell the riots 
of the previous day, in which five people sustained gunshot wounds.

The problems started on Tuesday when one group of vendors, led by Robert 
Kisembo, discovered that Kampala City Council (KCC) had leased the market to 
Rhino Investments, owned by retired Col. John Mugyenyi. Kisembo insists the 
only way to solve the conflict is to cancel the lease.

But Mugyenyi said he followed the right procedures to acquire the 49-year 
lease to redevelop the market. "Both KCC's contracts committee and the 
Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets approved the lease," he told The 
New Vision.

He promised he would not evict any traders. "I will give first priority to 
the sitting tenants. I am not going to build a church or a residential house 
but shops for traders. The problem is that KCC has not come out to explain 
this to the traders," he said.

Asked for a reaction, Mayor Nasser Ntege Sebaggala said KCC could not 
intervene since it was no longer responsible for the market.

"As far as we are concerned, the market is no longer in our hands. KCC as 
the landlord leased the market to the vendors and Rhino Investments," 
Sebaggala said.
Rhino Investments, he added, had already paid a premium and cleared the 
vendors in order to redevelop the market.
Rhino was given 2.2 acres, while the vendors got one-and-a-half acres. The 
entire land was leased at sh1.52b as premium and sh76m as ground rent.

Debating the anarchy that has engulfed the market, MPs yesterday said the 
Government should give the vendors the land title for redevelopment under 
its policy of giving sitting tenants first priority. They blamed the 
Government's indecision for the chaos.

Among the rioters arrested yesterday were Michael Kisitu, Sulaiman Kato, 
Musa Musende, Michael Kirabira, Patrick Rwomunyoro and Ronald Kalema.
Other suspects taken in were Eddy Zirimwabagambo, Hakim Nsubuga, Paul 
Ssekabira, Adam Ssembatya, Frank Ndawula, Ibrahim Kiwewa and Robert 
Mwesigye.

Of the five vendors who had been arrested on Tuesday, two were released on 
Police bond yesterday.

Additional reporting by Florence Nakaayi, Cyprian Musoke and John Odyek

http://allafrica.com/stories/200802260037.html

Uganda: Anti-Riot Police Stop Nakasero Protest

New Vision (Kampala)
25 February 2008
Posted to the web 26 February 2008
Conan Businge, Charles Ariko and Madinah Tebajjukira
Kampala
ANTI-RIOT and military Police yesterday suppressed a strike by Nakasero 
Market vendors and traders. The traders accused Geoffrey Ekanya, the 
chairman of the parliamentary committee on local government, of taking a 
bribe to write a contradictory report to Parliament over the market's 
re-development.
They said the new report favoured Kampala businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba 
and Kampala City Council (KCC). The traders and Basajjabala have disagreed 
over the management of the market.

The vendors said in the first report, Ekanya noted that the contract of 
Basajjabalaba's company, Sheila Investments, expired in 2005 and that any 
transactions after that were illegal.
However, in a new report, Ekanya advised Parliament to wait for the court's 
ruling on the matter.
"We (vendors) unlike MPs cannot wait for court. The President's word is law 
and final. He gave a directive that we redevelop this market," the chairman 
of the vendors, Godfrey Kakooza, said.
The strike, which started in the wee hours of the morning with vendors 
blocking Market Street, was quelled by patrol and anti-riot Police.
The anti-riot Police unblocked the road as the vendors pelted them with 
stones.
Armed with batons, shields and teargas guns, the Police stationed themselves 
on Duster and Market Square streets, cutting off the vendors from the rest 
of the city.
The rioters held placards, among others reading: "We are ready to fight 
Ekanya. We shall stay as long as M7 stays. Ekanya has embarrassed FDC."
At about 11:00am, vendors from Kisseka Market attempted to join their 
colleagues of Nakasero, but they were blocked.
Shops and stalls in both markets remained closed for half of the day.
The Kampala Extra Police spokesperson, Simeo Nsubuga, said security would be 
maintained around the markets and within the city.
"These markets belong to the vendors and we shall protect them. We shall not 
allow chaos to reign. As of now, we know that the vendors have rights over 
these markets," Nsubuga said.
In the afternoon, state minister Maurice Kagimu turned up at Nakasero 
Market, but was chased by the vendors.
His attempts to get their attention failed as vendors booed him. Kagimu 
later told journalists that the President's word on the market was final.
"There is no way the market will be taken away from the vendors. It can only 
be Parliament and Cabinet to change this directive," Kagimu said.
The Kampala resident district commissioners and the Central MP, Elias 
Lukwago, asked the vendors to call off the strike but their pleas were 
ignored.
Last year, Museveni gave the vendors a go-ahead to redevelop the market, 
overturning an earlier decision by KCC allocating the facility 
Basajjabalaba.
In August last year, Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala, told a committee 
investigating irregularities in the Central Division that the vendors lacked 
the capacity to re-develop the market.
Sebaggala's comments came days after Basajjabalaba vowed not to leave the 
market, unless ordered by court.
Basajjabalaba yesterday said he was still waiting for the President's 
directive on the matter.
"In a meeting I held with the President last year, we agreed that he would 
resolve the row. I am still waiting for his clearance. I have the title and 
my next move will be after his word. Vendors have nothing in Nakasero 
Market. Eighty per cent of the stalls and shops are mine," said the 
businessman.
Basajjabalaba also attacked Lukwago for fuelling rumours intended at 
inciting violence.
"I do not want to hear of the name Lukwago. He is like a mosquito, which 
moves everywhere.
"Last time he was in Masaka, now in Kampala causing havoc. This is a 
misguided fellow."

He denied bribing MPs, saying he only met the legislators when he appeared 
before them last year.
"I don't know who is who on that committee."
Additional reporting by Mark Owor and Moses Mulondo

http://72.3.244.61/stories/200802131095.html

Uganda: Kisekka Market Closed

The Monitor (Kampala)
14 February 2008
Posted to the web 13 February 2008
Robert Mwanje & Andrew Bagala
Kampala
POLICE closed Kisekka Market yesterday and fought running battles with 
vendors as riots over the market's ownership entered day two.
The police, which was heavily deployed, shot live ammunition in the air to 
disperse the traders and arresting more than a dozen people in the process. 
The arrests, however, did not spare errant police operatives.
Kampala Regional Police Commander Edward Ochom ordered the arrest of 10 
police officers who had shot live bullets in attempts to rattle the rioters.
Mr Ochom shocked traders when he had a verbal altercation with the District 
Police Commander Kampala, Mr John Bahibise, over the shooting.
"I don't want to see this. Why are these officers shooting?" a visibly 
infuriated Ochom charged. He, however, said the market would remain "closed 
until these wrangles are solved."
Traders are embroiled in a bitter contest over ownership with Rhino 
Investments Limited, a local trading company owned by Col. John Mugyenyi, an 
employee of State House.
A combined force of the Military Police and Special Police Constables (SPCs) 
simultaneously fired live bullets in the air and used teargas to force angry 
traders away from the market.
The unrest, which first erupted on Tuesday, resumed yesterday at 9:30 am, 
forcing traders in and around the area to close their shops. Armed with 
stones and clubs, vendors blocked Rashid Khamis Road, Kisekka Lane, Martin 
Road and set several tyres on fire near Kyaggwe Road towards Makerere Hill 
Road.
"We shall not rest until City Council considers our presence as traders. We 
are meeting the Residents District Commission to clarify on our concern 
before we consider another approach," said Mr Godfrey Kamulegeya, the 
chairman of the New Nakivubo Vendors Association.
Police loot
Rioters were left shell shocked after some SPCs, who had sealed off the 
market and were standing on guard, broke into it and looted fresh food 
stuffs. Bizarrely, the looting operatives did not wait to carry their bounty 
home, they feasted immediately.
Police officers were seen quenching their thirst with sodas and serving 
themselves with chicken thighs and matooke.
Kampala Extra Police spokesman Simeo Nsubuga described the actions as 
"unprofessional."
At the heart of the market dispute is Kampala City Council which insists 
that Rhino Investment is the bona fide owner of the market after it was 
leased out for redevelopment in a 49-year lease deal effective 2010.
But traders argue that as sitting tenants, they have first rights over the 
market and can develop it on their own. City Mayor Nasser Ssebaggala told 
Daily Monitor yesterday that KCC allocated the controversial market to Rhino 
Investments, with the consent of the traders, adding that it is "high time" 
vendors gave way for the planned re-development.
"Whoever is fighting Rhino Investments is not a lawful tenant. KCC signed a 
tenancy agreement with all market landlords who are supposed to share the 
market land with the identified developer," he said, adding, "Majority of 
those rioters are vendors who had turned Kisekka Market into a thieves' 
den."
Kampala Town Clerk Ruth Kijjambu backed Mr Ssebaggala's claims but insisted 
that the market land must be parcelled out and shared with the traders.
"We allocated the market to Rhino Investments who must share the land with 
the registered traders. I really don't know why they are protesting yet they 
have a share," Ms Kijjambu said.
Traders are furious that out of the 3.7acres of land that the market is 
sitted on, only 1.7 acres has been left for them. However, Ms Kijjambu 
claimed that following several squabbles over the land, meetings were held 
last year "where an understanding" between the traders and the developer was 
reached and their grievances settled.

Rhino speaks
Col. Mugyenyi told Daily Monitor that the demonstration was based on wrong 
information and rumours which suggested that his company was plotting to 
chase away the vendors from the market.
"I am not going to build a church or sleep in Kisekka Market. I am going to 
build a modern shopping mall which will help the vendors. But if the vendors 
don't want Rhino Investments Ltd as a partner, I am ready to leave so long 
as they refund my full dues and interest. I am not dying to invest in 
Kisekka. I can go elsewhere," he said, adding that Rhino Investments had 
fulfilled part of their bet, including paying all the premium, ground rent 
and preparing a construction plan in which the company and a total of 680 
vendors will inject Shs13 billion to develop the market into a six-storey 
shopping mall.
The riots spread to the New Taxi Park and Namirembe Road as protestors 
hurled stones at commuter taxes that were exiting the park. Not taking the 
attacks lightly, taxi operators retaliated, throwing back the stones.
Fourteen people, all whom the police identified as traders, were arrested in 
the ensuing melee. Mr Nsubuga said the suspects would appear in court today 
on charges of malicious damage of property.
The riot was sparked off after attempts by traders to have the release of 
colleagues who had been arrested a day earlier, failed to bear fruit. The 
traders besieged Kisekka Police Post, said Mr Joseph Magala, the market 
secretary for defence, and were promptly repulsed by force.
The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) strongly condemned the 
police's handling of the riot, saying in a statement; "The use of live 
ammunition by the police against civilians was unreasonable and 
unjustifiable in the democratic society that Uganda purports to be."

Meanwhile, the government yesterday condemned those involved in the 
demonstration but insisted the situation was under control.
"We assure the public that the situation is under control and the deployment 
has continued to ensure law and order," Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana 
Rugunda told Parliament.
Additional reporting by Joseph Miti, Zurah Nakabugo and Mercy Nalugo

http://72.3.244.61/stories/200802130034.html

Uganda: Police Shoots Rioters At Kisekka Market

New Vision (Kampala)
12 February 2008
Posted to the web 13 February 2008
Chris Kiwawulo
Kampala
THE Police shot and injured at least five people as they fought to stop a 
clash between two rival factions of traders at the Kisekka Market in Kampala 
last evening. A market vendor identified simply as Gonzaga along with 
another man, two women and a girl, were injured and rushed to Mulago 
Hospital by the Police.
Several other people were injured in the scuffle that started at about 
3:00pm, but they did not require medical attention.

The fighting pitted supporters of Rhino Investments, a company said to 
belong to retired Col. John Mugyenyi, and the other led by Robert Kisembo.
Each group wants to redevelop the market, which has been at the centre of a 
row between the traders and Rhino. The majority of traders are said to be 
opposed to Rhino taking over the market.
Police spokesperson Gabriel Tibayungwa said the Police opened fire when the 
rioters pelted them with stones and burnt a car.
"We don't use live ammunition except in extreme circumstances, like in a 
situation where an officer is about to be disarmed by rioters," he said. He, 
however, added that they would investigate the shooting.
The chaos started after the anti-Rhino faction was reportedly informed by 
the Kampala City Council that it had only Rhino's application to modernise 
the market that deals mainly in used car spareparts.
Regular Police appeared to have failed to contain the mayhem that ensued and 
were joined by the anti-riot Police.
Kyaggwe Road was closed to traffic as shop-keepers on the road hurriedly 
closed their premises for about four hours as the rioters engaged the Police 
in running battles. They lit bonfires in the middle of the roads around the 
market.

They burnt a saloon Honda car that was at a washing bay on Rashid Khamis 
Road behind Aldina mosque in Old Kampala.
The owner of the car escaped a lynching by hiding in the mosque. The rioters 
accused him of identifying them to the Police.
"When the Police arrived, the car owner directed them where the rioters 
were. The Police shot and injured one of them. That is why they burnt his 
car," an eyewitness said.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200802181207.html

Uganda: Vendors Clash Over Kisekka Market
New Vision (Kampala)
COLUMN
16 February 2008
Posted to the web 18 February 2008
Esther Namugoji
Kampala
IT does not take much to provoke a riot of some sort these days. Money is 
such a big motivator that even medical workers who are supposed to save 
lives are pushed to suspend their values to get some attention. This 
happened in Lira Hospital whose medical staff was protesting the non-payment 
of risk allowances promised six months ago. By the sixth day of the strike, 
about 11 people are said to have died out of negligence. Pregnant women 
helped to deliver one another's babies and the dead were left to lie in 
their ward beds alongside patients. District authorities and the ministers 
of health and disaster preparedness were bamboozled by the attitude of the 
workers. Hopefully authorities will learn to forestall such actions by 
dealing with the workers' grievances.
The grievances of striking Makerere University staff include the absence of 
teaching materials and misuse of their pension fund. The University Council 
ordered them to resume teaching or have their jobs advertised. The lecturers 
remained defiant. Not even the pleas of the new Chancellor, Prof. Mondo 
Kagonyera, could move them.

It emerged that the university spent sh100m for top officials to attend the 
Uganda North America Association Convention in the US. The lecturers 
questioned the relevance of such a trip to the university. Meanwhile, an 
estimated sh300m is lost each day of the lecturers' strike.
As if reading from the same script, even Budo Junior School staff downed 
their tools over pay. Thankfully, they agreed to resume teaching after a 
meeting the same day.
There was also chaos at Kisekka Market when rival factions of vendors 
clashed over its ownership. One group of vendors was angry on discovering 
that Kampala City Council had leased a big part of the market to Rhino 
Investments in conjunction with another group of vendors. After similar 
clashes last year, a tentative resolution was reached that vendors would be 
given first priority to redevelop the market. KCC washed its hands of the 
deal because technically Rhino is in partnership with some vendors.
Five people were injured when the Police shot live bullets to disperse the 
unruly crowd. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Maj. Gen. Kale 
Kayihura, eventually apologised to all who suffered.
A law that attempts to control similar demonstrations was nearly revoked in 
Parliament. The Statutory Instrument 2007 No.5 states that a permit from the 
IGP is required to convene a gathering of more than 25 people. The 
opposition says it is meant to stifle their right to assemble, turning 
Uganda into a 'police state'. In a heated session, the government side was 
forced to consider reviewing the law following a motion moved by Kampala 
Central Member of Parliament, Hon. Erias Lukwago.
Meanwhile, Lukwago had a session in jail after he was arrested for uttering 
false documents in Masaka. Lukwago denied the charge that he released a 
false Scotland Yard report on the death of Andrew Kayiira. He was released 
on bail.
Rubaga North MP Beti Olive Kamya was also charged with promoting war, 
sectarianism, sedition and inciting violence following a newspaper article 
she wrote. President Yoweri Museveni also said he would sue her for implying 
in the same article that he is not a Ugandan citizen by birth. Kamya denied 
the charges.

http://www.ugee.com/20080213498/Latest-News/-Kiseka-market-traders-strike.html

Kiseka market traders strike

One person has died and two others injured during the riot over the illegal 
sell of Kiseka market, to a UPDFofficial, Col. Mugenyi of Rhino Investments. 
Timothy Sibasi with the rest of that story. This is the third time that the 
illegal sale of Kisekka market is causing running battles, between traders 
and the police.
The strike was sparked off, after a businessman identified as Gonzaga, was 
gunned down by a policeman. Two other traders were injured in the riot.
The traders claim that Kampala city council did not considered them as 
capable development partners, in the biding process of this market. The 
market was allegedly sold off to a one Col. Mugyenyi. President Yoweri 
Museveni issued an order stopping the illegal sale of city markets, 
especially if traders are willing to participate in developing them.

Traders vow not to vacate the land. Mean while business also came to a stand 
still as most of the shops were closed and access roads to the market 
closed.

School children going back home were heavily escorted with traffic police 
through Nakivubo and old Kampala roads which had been paralyzed by the 
running battles. Police spokes person, Gabriel Tibayungwa, said  this riot 
was unexpected.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200803210337.html

Uganda: Kisekka Market Probe Begins

New Vision (Kampala)
20 March 2008
Posted to the web 21 March 2008
Anne Mugisa and Florence Nakaayi
Kampala
Tempers flared on Wednesday as the commission probing the affairs of Kisekka 
Market quizzed the town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu, on how the lease was awarded 
to developers.
Kijjambu was angered by Kampala Woman MP Nabillah Ssempala's demand for a 
clarification as to whether KCC acted legally.

The situation was saved from deteriorating further by the chairman, Jacob 
Oulanyah, who told Kijjambu that the commission was not trying to condemn 
her.
Kijjambu said KCC permitted the New Nakivubo Road Market Vendors Association 
and Rhino Investment to redevelop the market in August last year.
She said wrangles erupted when a splinter group, The Nakivubo Road Old 
(Kisekka) Market Vendors, emerged disowning the first group and asked KCC to 
cancel the offer.
The splinter groups, Kijjambu said, claimed that the first group led by 
Samuel Ssekibenga was not representative.
They, however, admitted that they had mandated Ssekibenga to represent them, 
Kijjambu told the commission.
According to Kijjambu, she told them their request was confusing because 
they mandated Ssekibenga and the offer was made.
On the riots, Kijjambu absolved both groups, saying other selfish people had 
hired mercenaries to cause chaos.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200802121104.html

Uganda: Four Shot in Fresh City Market Riots

The Monitor (Kampala)
13 February 2008
Posted to the web 12 February 2008
Robert Mwanje & Andrew Bagala
Kampala
FOUR people were yesterday shot and seriously injured by police in fresh 
demonstrations that erupted at Kisekka Market.
Traders protested the government's failure to fulfill its pledge of offering 
them a chance to redevelop the market, resulting into a four-hour clash with 
police.

According to the chairman Kisekka Market block A, Mr Mubiru Ssebagala, two 
of the victims were identified as Rose Nangobi and Gonzaga Ssenkumba. The 
victims were rushed to Mulago Hospital.
The riot that began at around 3pm developed into serious clashes between 
police and traders as the rioters burnt tyres along Kyaggwe and Nakivubo 
roads.
The clashes forced traffic police to seal off part of Bombo Road, Johnson 
Street, Kamis Rashid Road, cutting off Old Kampala areas. Several lanes were 
also blocked, causing terrible traffic jams.
Chaos at the market worsened at 5:25pm as a group of furious youthful 
vendors started spreading burning objects towards police trucks along Kyagwe 
Road near the New Taxi Park.
The irate group also used empty bottles and stones to battle police, 
damaging a number of buildings around the market. The chairman for New 
Nakivubo Vendors Association, Mr Godfrey Kamulegeya, said traders were 
disappointed by President Yoweri Museveni's failure to fulfill his pledge 
that traders would be the ones to redevelop their market instead of the 
proposed Rhine Investments.
"Traders were promised by the President, through Local Government State 
Minister Hope Mwesigye, that soon after Chogm, they would receive a letter 
from State House confirming their ownership of the market but we (traders) 
were disappointed when we received information from the City Council that 
Rhino Investments are the rightful developers," Mr Kamulegeya said.
"Traders are ready to fight for their market to the last person. We have 
seen how a few individuals and City Council sell off other markets. This is 
unacceptable," added Mr Kamulegeya.
The burnt tyres created thick clouds of smoke over the market area. Business 
was also paralysed in the market as Kampala witnessed yet another strike by 
traders.
Many rioters fled, while others squatted as the police riot team fired 
canisters at the people who were regrouping along city streets.
Fire officers extinguished the bonfires as the angry traders resorted to 
pelting police with stones and empty bottles.
The damage on police trucks, insults and constant stoning from the traders 
forced the police officers to fire in the air in a bid to scatter the 
regrouping crowd.
Early this year, KCC approved a Kisekka market redevelopment plan by Rhino 
Investments Ltd, in conjunction with the New Nakivubo Road Market Vendors 
Association for 49 years, effective 2010.
It was agreed that Rhino Investments would draw the building plans and clear 
the premium and ground rent costs and in turn take 2.2 acres while traders 
would own the remaining 1.5 acres.
The sale of markets in Kampala has turned to be a chaotic issue, positioning 
Kisekka Market as a tip of an iceberg. Last year, Nakasero Market was a no 
go area as traders kept on rioting against Sheila Investments, a local 
company to which city council had awarded the market against traders' 
interest.
Currently, traders are in control of Nakasero although it's highly doubted 
whether they have its legal ownership. Natete Market is largely seen as the 
next market in the city market bonanza.
The market give-away bonanza has sparked a lot of controversy in Kampala, 
with KCC controversially allocating markets to city businessmen against 
traders' interests to manage them.
Earlier protests
Last year, Kisekka Market traders made several demonstrations against the 
planned redevelopment of the market by Rhino Investments. Several arrests 
were made then.
In April 2007, President Yoweri Museveni ordered Local Government Minister 
Kahinda Otafiire and KCC to stop selling markets belonging to Kampala City 
Council to private individuals.
In an April 19 letter to the minister titled "Fraudulent sale of Nateete 
Market to Hassan Basajjabalaba" - Mr Museveni's order was in the first 
sentence of his letter: "These markets were owned by the public through the 
city and Town Councils.
I do not remember Cabinet deciding on this issue i.e. authorising local 
governments on privatising markets," the letter, copied to Prime Minister 
Apolo Nsibambi and Kampala Mayor Nasser Sebaggala, read in part.
It further said: "We privatised factories and hotels because they are 
moneymaking enterprises. The parastatals were inefficient, making losses and 
not advancing our industrialisation policy."
In his letter, President Museveni said he had failed to understand the 
rationale behind the sale of markets to private individuals instead of 
giving them to the vendors through their own associations. "The market 
operators should own it themselves," the letter said.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200803241319.html

Uganda: Kisekka Market Vendors Oppose Lifting of Caveat

The Monitor (Kampala)
25 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008
Robert Mwanje & Al-Mahdi Ssenkabiwa
Kampala
KISEKKA Market vendors have petitioned Kampala City Council protesting what 
they call the illegal lifting of a caveat on the market land.
In their letter to KCC also copied to Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago, the 
vendors demanded the immediate reinstatement of the caveat.

The vendors' Chairman, Mr Kasolo Kisembo, said vendors' want the caveat on 
the market land reinstated before investigations are carried out.
"We have learnt that the caveat on the market land has been lifted by the 
City Council and the former market leadership without our consent. This is 
very risky as another demonstration may crop up any time as a result of 
this," Mr Kasolo said in his letter.
Kisekka Market has been a centre of endless riots in the recent past 
stemming from the vendors refusal to allow a private developer to take up 
management of the market. KCC had earlier resolved to offer the market to 
Rhino Investments, a local trading company owned by Col. John Mugyenyi.

Traders under New Nakivubo Vendors Association also protested the council's 
decision to offer the market to Rhino Investments and Nakivubo Road Market 
Vendors Association. But city Mayor Nasser Sebaggala insists KCC is right to 
allocate the market to Rhino Investments and New Nakivubo Road Market 
Vendors Association because it consists of lockup owners and not vendors.
Recently, Local Government Minister Maj. Gen Kahinda Otafiire set up a six- 
member committee to investigate the rampant wrangles in Kisekka Market.
Former member of Parliament for Omoro County Jacob Oulanyah heads the 
committee. Gen. Otafiire said the committee would help to identify the 
genuine traders' association to which the government will offer the market 
for redevelopment.

http://72.3.244.61/stories/200802252081.html

Uganda: Market Vendors Strike Over Leaked Report

The Monitor (Kampala)
26 February 2008
Posted to the web 25 February 2008
Robert Mwanje & Risdel Kasasira
Kampala
FRESH protests broke out at Kisekka and Nakasero markets yesterday following 
a leaked parliamentary report, which recommended that only courts and not 
President Museveni should decide who has first rights to develop the 
markets.
Days after two people were shot dead by police in a demonstration at Kisekka 
Market; traders at Nakasero staged a sit-down strike protesting the 
parliamentary recommendation.

The vendors were riled by leaked details of the report by Local government 
Accounts Committee, which apparently contradicts the committee's earlier 
recommendation that vendors be given first priority to redevelop the market.
It also emerged that Kampala MP Erias Lukwago, a member of the committee, is 
now in the eye of the storm after fellow committee members accused him of 
leaking the report before it is debated in Parliament.
"Our rules of procedure are clear and Honourable Lukwago is aware that you 
can not leak a committee's report before it's presented to the House. So he 
must face disciplinary action," said Committee Chairman Geoffrey Ekanya 
(FDC, Tororo).
COME GET ME: A street boy ready to battle the police at Nakasero Market 
yesterday. Photo by Willy Tamale
"Mr Lukwago faces suspension because committee members had unanimously 
agreed that he shouldn't continue to be a member of this committee."
Mr Lukwago said he was unmoved by the threats and was ready to defend 
himself before the House Committee of Rules, Discipline and Privileges.
"I am used to battles. I will spill the beans because they have now opened 
the pandora box," he said yesterday.
Last year, Kampala City Council offered Nakasero Market to M/s Sheila 
Investment Ltd against the traders' wishes, forcing Parliament to intervene.
The traders insisted that they have the financial muscle to redevelop the 
market. Sheila Investment is a local trading company owned by city 
businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba.
"Although the transaction subsequent to the expiry of the management 
contract in 2005 between KCC and Sheila Investments Ltd, to date has been 
riddled by fraud and characterised by illegalities, the government should 
wait for the outcome of the court ruling in order to take care of the 
vendors in a transparent and competitive manner under the direct supervision 
of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA)," read a copy of the 
addendum to the report signed by 11 of the 20 MPs who sit on the committee. 
Mr Ekanya also signed.
According to Nakasero Market Sitting Vendors and Traders Association 
publicist Musa Tamale traders want President Museveni to make good on his 
promise and hand over the market land title to them.
"The strike will continue untill the President fulfils his pledge. We are 
worried by the twist in the new parliamentary report where traders are not 
protected at all," Mr Tamale said.
However, in an interview with Daily Monitor, Mr Basajjabalaba scoffed at the 
traders insisting that he is the legal owner of the market.
"I have the land titles for both plots on which Nakasero market is sited. 
Those are simply jokers who must vacate my land unless the President 
compensates me," Mr Basajjabalaba said, adding, "Is that their father's 
land? The question of land has no shortcuts you either have a land title or 
not".
In efforts to end the long-standing rift over Nakasero Market, President 
Museveni met Mr Basajjabalaba last year and reportedly agreed to compensate 
him.
Speaking to veterans from Kampala, Mukono and Kayunga in separate meetings 
in Kyankwanzi, Mr Museveni said on Sunday that the system of selling public 
markets and bus parks was hatched by the former administration of Kampala 
City Council.
"I do not want to see those people (vendors) displaced or even disturbed," 
the President said last Sunday.
Amid heavy police deployment, the sit down strike began at around 9 am and 
remained peaceful.

The strike, however, paralysed business in the city centre especially shops 
on Market Street, Duster Street and Luwum Street. Protestors accused city 
mayor Nasser Sebaggala and Mr Ekanya of practicing double standards.
Kisekka Market vendors only joined their Nakasero colleagues, and revived 
their demands for first priority. A group of about 100 vendors from Kisekka 
Market joined Duster Street demanding government's immediate intervention to 
settle their grievances.
The chairman for New Nakivubo Vendors Association, Mr Godfrey Kamulegeya, 
said traders were disappointed by the mayor's remarks recently that 
suggested that traders were wasting time demonstrating over "already 
given-away property."

http://allafrica.com/stories/200802141036.html

Uganda: President Museveni Backs Kisekka Market Vendors

The Monitor (Kampala)
15 February 2008
Posted to the web 14 February 2008
Andrew Bagala & Robert Mwanje
Kampala
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has insisted that Kisekka Market vendors be given 
the first priority to redevelop their market.
In a message delivered by the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale 
Kayihura, President Museveni said the issue of how city markets should be 
redeveloped was resolved in the government's policy document last year.
At the Police headquarters yesterday, Gen. Kayihura said, "When I contacted 
President Museveni, he confirmed that the policy document on redevelopment 
of markets is in place and should be followed."
"The sitting tenants who own stalls shall be registered and given the first 
priority to develop the markets," the IGP read part of the policy document.
Gen. Kayihura held in a meeting with the Kisekka Market vendors and Kampala 
Resident District Commissioners.
The policy document gives the sitting tenants wide options of having 
influence in the development of the markets.
It gives them first priority. When they fail, they shall identify a partner 
to redevelop the market. Another option is the government redeveloping the 
market for the good of the tenants.
"With that, you shall not see Rhino Investments disturbing the people in 
Kisekka Market again. I don't care who is who. I am following the government 
position," Gen. Kayihura said.
Kisekka Market vendors and tenants have spent two days fighting running 
battles with police after vendors learnt of fresh plans by Rhino 
Investments - owned by Col. John Mugyenyi, to take over the market. The riot 
left several people seriously injured and others detained.
Traders are embroiled in a bitter contest over ownership with Rhino 
Investments Limited. The IGP said, "Sitting tenants shall be free to develop 
their market on condition that they mobilise money for the project."
He said they would stay in the market to see that the existing status quo 
remains. Kisekka Market was yesterday reopened after government's assurance.
However, the policy document has never been translated into law, it is still 
in the Attorney General's office.
The IGP, while visiting Kisekka Market promised vendors that he would talk 
to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs so that a statutory 
instrument is put in place as the President and cabinet ordered.
He laboured to convince vendors that the Presidential directive was genuine.

"The Land Bill the president is supporting is also aimed at protecting 
tenants in towns, like you vendors, from evictions. So how can the President 
think about the people in rural areas when you are also here?" the IGP 
asked.
But the vendors shouted at the IGP saying, "That is old information. What we 
want are documents proving that the market is ours."
They questioned him about brutal police officers who shot live bullets at 
them, looted their food and mobile phones. Ms Alice Muwanguzi, Kampala RDC 
said "the status quo should remain.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/579/612611

Kisekka Market riot: Is it the price for KCC's lack of funds? Wednesday, 
20th February, 2008

Vendors rioting over who owns Kisekka Market and who has the right to 
redevelop it

KAMPALA

By Joshua Kato

FOR the fourth time since Kisekka Market's inception in 1999, traders went 
on strike over its redevelopment. This follows a directive from the 
Government in November last year that traders redevelop the market.

However, according to the resident district commissioner (RDC), Alice 
Muwanguzi, the absence of documentation made it difficult to act upon the 
directive. In addition to this, there are rival factions of traders led by 
Robert Kisembo and Samuel Ssekibenga fighting over who should redevelop the 
market.

History of market
Kisekka Market deals in both new and old vehicle parts. It has about 5,000 
official traders and hundreds of others doing vehicle repairs. Initially, 
the market was a temporary business area, for traders displaced by the 
construction of the new taxi park.
In 1999, Kampala City Council (KCC) and the vendors reached a lease 
agreement of 11 years under which KCC allowed the traders to construct 
permanent lock-ups. The lease is due to expire in 2011.

Cause of conflict
In 2000, KCC made a policy stipulating that all markets in Kampala were to 
be modernised. Initially, KCC intended to construct the buildings and rent 
them to traders. However, due to lack of funds, KCC opted to lease out 
market construction to investors, with the first option going to vendors.

According to mayor Nasser Sebaggala, it is under this arrangement that 
vendors from Kisekka requested to modernise their market. "On November 3, 
2006, we received an application from the market management of New Nakivubo 
Road Market Vendors Association to redevelop the market," says town clerk 
Ruth Kijjambu.

On February 6, 2007, KCC received a communication from the then RDC Stanley 
Kinyatta, granting the association permission for the project. The 
commendation was supported by the Minister of Local Government Maj. Gen. 
Kahinda Otafiire. "[Vendors] should have priority in developing their place 
of work. Allow them to develop the market," Otafiire wrote.

Subsequently, KCC allowed the traders to redevelop the market on condition 
that they identified an investment partner for the task. On April 27, 2007, 
KCC received a communication from the vendors saying: "We have identified an 
investor who appreciates the interests of the vendors and owners of lock-up 
shops. We have since concluded an agreement with the investor company M/S 
Rhino Investments Limited," it stated.
In a meeting on May 4, 2007, KCC considered the application for a 
partnership between the vendors' association and Rhino Investments and 
approved it.

As is the legal procedure, KCC communicated to the Public Procurement and 
Disposal of Assets (PPDA) about the decision. On June 27, 2007, PPDA 
communicated to KCC, saying: "Under regulation 127 (1) (b) of the Local 
Government regulations, an entity is permitted to use a method of direct 
negotiations with a tenant and it is reasonable to give the tenant the first 
option to buy.

Split creates chaos
However, the vendors split into two with one group led by Kisembo, accusing 
the other led by Ssekibenga of bringing Rhino Investments on board without 
their consent.

Kisembo's group argues that Ssekibenga's group does not represent the 
traders. "By the time they struck that deal with Rhino Investments, they 
were no longer the leaders of the market and we did everything we did in the 
name of the traders," Kisembo says. However, Ssekibenga denies this saying: 
"We are the elected leaders of the market."

Interestingly, the Kisembo group registered after the Ssekibenga group had 
got the tender to develop the market. The Kisembo group is registered as a 
limited company and ssekibenga's group is an association.
Ssekibenga claims to have the backing of most of the 680 stall owners in the 
market, while Kisembo is backed by casual mechanics who do not have stalls.

According to KCC, everything was done legally and they have passed ownership 
of the market to Rhino Investments and the Ssekibenga group. "It is now the 
duty of the vendors to iron out their differences and continue to develop 
the area," Sebaggala said.

The fact that Rhino Investments have paid the requisite premium to KCC means 
it would be difficult for the other vendors to recover the market. In fact, 
KCC is no longer responsible for Kisekka, Sebaggala said. "As far as we are 
concerned, KCC as the landlord leased the market to the vendors and Rhino 
Investments," he said.
Rhino was leased two acres while the vendors got one and a-half acres.

The director of Rhino Investments, Col. (rtd) John Mugyenyi, says the strife 
among the vendors was caused by misinformation. For example, false rumours 
were being peddled that Mugyenyi was going to evict traders.
"I have no intention of evicting anybody from Kisekka, because the 
redevelopment plan is a joint venture with the vendors," he says.

He explained that Rhino Investments has fulfiled part of their deal, 
including paying the premium, ground rent and preparing a construction plan 
in which the company and the traders will inject over sh13b.
After the chaos, the President's office directed that the market be given to 
the vendors.

http://www.zibb.com/article/2688643/Kisekka+Market+Investor+Speaks+Out

Kisekka Market Investor Speaks Out
Kampala, Feb 13, 2008 (The Monitor/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- 
THE director of Rhino Investments Ltd yesterday said the vendors' 
demonstration was due to misinformation and rumours that the company was 
going to evict them from the market.
"I have no intention to chase anybody from Kisekka market because the 
re-development plan is a joint venture with the vendors. That agreement is 
in writing, "Col. John Mugyenyi, a retired UPDF officer told Daily Monitor 
late last evening.
"I am not going to build a church or sleep in Kisekka market. I am going to 
build a modern shopping mall which will help the vendors. But if the vendors 
don't want Rhino Investments Ltd as a partner, I am ready to leave so long 
as they refund my full dues and interest, I am not dying to invest in 
Kisekka, I can go elsewhere," he said.
Col. Mugyenyi said the proposed redevelopment had followed all the 
procedures because vendors identified Rhino Investments Ltd as a capable 
partner able to build a modern market. Accordingly, the re-development plan, 
which was approved by both the KCC Works committee, the Executive and the 
Council's Contracts Committee after the vendors approached the minister of 
local government to allow them to re-develop the market.
After the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority, the 
body that oversees procurement in the country, ratified the deal, KCC in 
July last year offered the market for redevelopment on a 49-year lease, 
effective 2010.
Col. Mugyenyi said Rhino Investments Ltd had fulfilled part of their deal, 
including paying all the premium, ground rent and preparing a construction 
plan in which the company and a total of 680 vendors will inject Shs13 
billion to develop the market which covers 3.7 acres into a six-storey 
shopping mall.
Col Mugyenyi said the rioting vendors lack proper information which he 
blamed on government officials.