Vendors at Hoima Hardware market in Hoima town are planning a peaceful demonstration in protest of the poor sanitation around the market.
The vendors who accuse the municipal council authorities of failing to heed their demand for improved sanitation at the market have scheduled their protest for Monday May 9.
The vendors say they will march to the town clerk’s office demanding his intervention in the matter during the protest.
Jackson Ngambeki, a shoe vendor says the poor sanitation around the market is caused by the poorly-dumped garbage.
Ngambeki adds that people have resorted to defecating anywhere around the market simply because there are no toilet facilities.
According to Ngambeki, the only latrine that was used by vendors was closed long time ago leaving unscrupulous people with no option but to ease themselves anywhere around. He says this filthy environment makes their work difficult. He vows to lead vendors for a march to Hoima municipality offices in protest on Monday.
Vincent Ssegawa another shoe vendor demands an explanation from the municipal council over the poor sanitary conditions at the market yet they pay market dues.
Ssegawa wants the market tendered out as the only way to improve the sanitation since municipal council has failed.
The angry vendors took journalists on a tour around the market, but only heaps of human waste and other filthy material could be seen and the stench was unbearable.
It’s not the first time vendors at the market are complaining over the undesirable sanitary conditions at the market. Last year the vendors raised the same issue and demanded that new toilets be constructed at the market and a garbage skip be provided.
Hoima Hardware market has over 300 vendors operating in it. Felix Mugano, the Hoima Municipal health inspector has called for calm saying he would meet the vendors to find away forward on enhancing sanitation around the market facility.
Mugano explains that the toilet at the market had been illegally closed by a person tentatively entrusted to manage it as council shopped around for a contractor. He ordered for the return of the keys so that the toilet can be used by vendors.
