A group of vendors from Shauriyako market, in Kampala have issued a two week ultimatum to the market's leadership, seeking an immediate meeting to discuss matters related to the ownership of the market.
The traders say if the meeting is not convened, they will not hesitate to forward the matters to the Inspector General of Government.
A similar ultimatum was issued in July to the leadership of Nakivubo Shauriyako Market Company Limited, but by yesterday, nothing had been agreed upon. the vendors claim that the market leadership has not convened any meeting with the members since the redevelopments started over a year ago.
Fredrick Turyahikayo, the Chairperson of the aggrieved vendors, says they are being denied the opportunity to express their concern among which is the issue of accountability. The vendors also want the market leadership to explain the status of the title deed of the market.
Earlier, there were fears by the vendors about their future at the Shauriyako Plaza following reports that the market leadership was planning to transfer the land title of the Plaza into their names.
It has now emerged that Nakivubo Shauriyako Market Vendors Association, a rival company to the current leaseholders still has its grips on the land.
The Association placed a caveat on the plot in 2006 and it still stands over a year after the Commercial Court granted the current leaseholders the green light to redevelop the market.
But last week, Rock Luuze, the Association Chairman, issued a communication to the vendors claiming that he convened an extraordinary meeting in May to address the same concerns raised by the vendors.
During the purported meeting, it was resolved that the next annual general meeting would be held as required by the law and that the Chairman would give notice.
But the vendors insist that the meeting alluded to by the Association Chairman was only convened to allocate shops to members.
In a bid to resolve the impasse, the aggrieved vendors met with the Association Secretary Ronald Kirumira over the weekend, but the two failed to reach a consensus.
Grace Musiige, the Spokesperson of the aggrieved vendors says the Association has up to 15th August to fix a date for the meeting failure of which they were take the matter to the IGG. The other option he says is to stage a seat down strike in protest against their leaders.
//Cue in: iThe 14th days is elapsing on#
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The vendors want the agreement signed with the Company to be reviewed in order to address some queries.
Musiige sites one clause in the agreement which stipulates that each of the vendors paid 9 million shillings when in reality they paid 10 million shillings. Others were made to sign an agreement of 9 million shillings and yet they had bought 20 shares which amounts to 20 million shillings.
The agreement also stipulates that each shop owner will be required to pay yearly rent fees of 50,000 shillings which is subject to revision after every five years.
The vendors are however arguing that the fee is irregular since they paid for the shops.
