Shauriyako market was regarded as a model project for markets by leaders within the Local Government Ministry and Kampala City.
But early last year, the market was a scene of chaotic clashes between the vendors and police until early last year, when the vendors were given a green light to redevelop the market.
The vendors fought off Kampala businessman, Hassan Basajabalaba and his company, First Merchant International Trading Company, which had expressed interest in redeveloping the same market.
But Shauriyako market is now embroiled in a dispute with a section of vendors accusing the leadership of the market of fraud. The vendors are demanding for accountability of the 8 billion shillings which was collected from them for the redevelopment.
Grace Musiige, one of the aggrieved vendors says they are not satisfied with the way the project was handled.
The vendors accuse members of the steering committee of the market of abusing an otherwise well intentioned project.
623 vendors signed a memorandum of Association with Nakivubo Shauliyako Market Company Limited the Company that was endorsed by Kampala City Council to redevelop the market.
Under the terms of the agreement, the vendors were required to contribute 1 million shillings for the lease and 8 million shillings to aid in the construction process. Once the shops were complete they would be allocated to the vendors who paid up the full amount of money.
But some vendors now allege that the project has been hijacked by members of the Steering Committee in collusion with some officials within Kampala City Council.
Grace Musiige says some members of the steering committee have allocated themselves and their families up to 15 shops each leaving out some members of the Association.
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The vendors' claim that 85% of the vendors were left out of the project an allegation disputed the Association Chairman Rock Luuze who says 75% of the members have received their shops.
The vendors also say their future at the now Shauriyako Plaza is uncertain following reports that the market leadership is planning to transfer the land title of the Plaza into their names.
The vendors claim they were reliably informed about the move by insiders within the Land Ministry.
Rock Luuze, the Association Chairman, however disputes the allegations saying they are intended to tarnish his leadership. He acknowledges that some vendors were left out of the project because they were unable to raise the required funds.
Luuze says that those that were unable to raise the full amount at the time of completing the construction process had their money refunded.
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But the vendors insist that the original arrangement was for the Association leadership to acquire a loan from the Bank, construct the shops and allow the vendors to pay back under a mortgage scheme.
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The vendors have given the Association leadership up to three weeks within which they should convene a meeting to address their concerns, failure of which they will pursue legal action.
