Traders have abandoned Ibanda Central market following the increase in taxes and council's failure to stop food vending outside the market.
The traders claim that allowing vendors to sell their products outside the market makes them lose customers, which affects their income.
Last financial year, the traders were paying 3,000 shillings as taxes but they're now paying 10,000 shillings.
Other fees that the traders are supposed to pay include money for security which was increased from 500 shillings to 1,000 shillings and sanitation which was increased from 500 shillings to 1,000 shillings.
The market located at Bifunda Cell in Ibanda Town Council is supposed to have 130 traders but for the past two days, 80 traders have vacated the market and the rest have threatened to follow their colleagues.
Juliet Kamugisha a trader says that the council is charging them higher taxes yet they have failed to renovate some of the structures at the market which are in a dilapidated state. Some of the structures have been in a sorry state since 2003.
Kamugisha wants council to allocate the empty stalls in the market to the vendors. Gordon Asiimwe a vendor who is considering vacating the market says that he can't pay the high taxes because most of his customers are now buying food stuffs from the vendors.
When Uganda Radio Network visited some parts of the town, some vendors were selling vegetables and other food stuffs on the roadside, while the market was deserted.
One of the vendors, Charles Tumwesigye says that they don't pay any fees to Ibanda Town Council.
The Chairman of the market traders, John Bosco Kabagambe says that the council authorities and some politicians allow the vendors to sell their food stuffs outside the market.
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Kabagambe also says that the traders have been affected by the high taxes and that's why the vacated the market.
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The Town Clerk Ibanda, Justin Barekye Mulise says the taxes were increased to enable the council acquire local revenue to fund activities of the town.
She also says that the vendors on the streets are there illegally and would soon be rounded up.
