Arua Municipality has launched a massive eviction exercise of food vendors operating in ungazzetted areas to control the spread of cholera epidemic. The authorities embarked on the eviction exercise on Monday, after a case of cholera was reported in the municipality. Dr. Paul Onzubo, Arua Municipal health officer says that they decided to embark on the eviction of food vendors from the streets because of the poor sanitation.
He says that it is not fit for vendors to sell food and fruits in the streets because it exposes residents to diseases. Several food vendors have been operating along Onzivu, Inzikuru Avenue, Market lane and Duka road. Onzubo says that they are worried that if allowed to continue operating the vendors can amplify the spread of Cholera in the municipality.
According to Onzubo, a part from evicting food vendors they have issued warning letters to residents and offices without sanitary facilities to put them in place, within two weeks.
//Cue in: “we are at risk…”
Cue out…to the rest of the district.”//
Some of the government departments that have received the warning letters include Arua district central police station and the office of the Resident District Commissioner. But some of the evicted road side food vendors have expressed disappointment over the abrupt move taken by the municipal council health authorities to close their businesses, which has been the only source of income for their families.
Habiba Bako, a tea vendor at Arua Tax Park, complained that it would have been better if the law enforcement officers to allow them to vacate voluntarily instead of pouring away their tea. Bako says that they were caught unawares because they were not given any notice. Stella Munduru, another vendor confronted the law enforcement officers when they attempted to pour the tea she had prepared for her clients.
Munduru said she could allow the enforcement officers to pour her tea saying she would suffer a loss yet she has to service a loan from FINCA. Charles Asiki, the mayor Arua municipality explains that the eviction has not been conducted in bad faith. He says that they will deal with law enforcement who will be pin pointed by the vendors for using excessive force.
