New Jinja central market lacks tools for collecting garbage thus compromising the hygiene standards and the health of the vendors.
The site also has poor drainage facilities and lacks piped water, according to Bakali Nabongo, the New Jinja central market master.
Nabongo says the wheel burrows, spades, garbage folks and gloves were all stolen in the process of shifting the vendors from the old market to the new market site. He says hygiene has been maintained in the market with the few tools. But he laments that the vendors dump garbage from fresh foods, fish and meat crudely in the market which makes it difficult for the routine garbage collectors to keep pace in cleaning the market.
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He has tabled the complaint to Jinja central division assistant town clerk, Joyce Kasowole, who says the money to purchase the tools is not available. The toilet facilities were not constructed as agreed with the vendors and the municipality council officials.
Said Mohammed, the Jinja municipal engineer says it was agreed upon by Jinja municipality council and the vendors’ leadership not to construct a toilet inside the new market since the market will only be temporary. The New Jinja central market at Kazimingi was constructed on railway land and along Engineer Zikusooka, way in Jinja.
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He says likewise drainage channels and piped water cannot be dug up and connected along the road reserves and railway land.
The toilet construction at the taxi park was done at 47 million shillings and the contract was awarded to FITA investments.
But the vendors say a lot should be done to improve the conditions they are trading in as clients are no longer buying from the market.
Umar Mukoova, a vendor in the foods section of the market says the council authorities have not collected garbage for more than two weeks. The market has no piped water and when it rains the garbage mixes with rain water.
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New Jinja central market has more than 3000 stalls with more than 7000 vendors, who were this month relocated from the old market to pave way for its construction.
