200 vendors from Mbale Bus Park have staged a demonstration to protest their eviction from the bus park.
The vendors are opposed to a decision by Mbale Municipal Council to demolish their kiosks in Mbale Bus Park to pave way for redevelopment.
Trouble started this morning at around 4.am when the vendors were alerted that a group of men had invaded the bus park and were demolishing their kiosks.
Armed with stones and sticks the vendors surrounded the men who were being guarded by armed policemen and forced them out of the park.
Sarah Nagudi a beautician says they are opposed to the redevelopment plan because they were not given first priority as sitting tenants.
She explains that Mbale Municipal Council advertised that Bus Park plots but put stringent conditions to block the vendors.
One of the condition is that applicants must have a registered company which the vendors claim is unfair.
Issa Kiboya the chairperson of the vendors claims that the council did not consider their request to be given first priority because the councilors have vested interests in the bus park land.
He claims most of the plots in the park have been shared by councilors who are now selling them at 15 million shillings.
Kibaya says the livelihood of the 200 vendors will be affected if they are not given an alternative place to operate.
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But Norbert Turyahikayo the Mbale Town Clerk says the vendors were not given first priority because none of them met the requirement.
He says the plots were awarded through open bidding.
