Traders at Nakawa Market have rejected the government's reported plans to take over the facility, insisting that they must first be compensated for the money they invested in constructing stalls and developing the market. The traders claim they entered into an agreement with the then Kampala City Council (KCC) in 1995 to develop the market using their own resources after the council reportedly explained that it lacked sufficient funds to construct the facility.
The traders, led by their chairman, George William Bunjo, petitioned Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga at City Hall, seeking his intervention following a letter from Kampala Resident City Commissioner Umar Lule Mawiya informing them that the government had taken over the market. Bunjo explained that traders invested their personal savings and obtained bank loans to construct stalls under the agreement with KCC.
Individual traders started building their stalls in 2000, with each person responsible for developing and managing their own space. The chairman insisted that traders who invested their money in the market should not be forced to leave without receiving compensation. He warned that they would not surrender the facility until the government addressed their concerns and paid them for their investments.
The traders also expressed concern that the communication announcing the government takeover had created uncertainty among people who have operated at Nakawa Market for many years. They are calling for the government to assess the value of their investments before implementing any takeover or eviction.
Responding to their petition, Lord Mayor Balimwezo acknowledged that disputes over the ownership and management of markets in Kampala had persisted for years, citing Nakawa, Owino, Nakivubo and Bugoloobi markets. He argued that traders who used their own money to construct stalls should not be removed without compensation.
Balimwezo pledged to support the traders' demand and said he would push for compensation to be considered in the 2026/2027 budget. The traders are now calling for dialogue involving the government, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and affected traders to establish the value of their investments and agree on compensation before further action is taken.
The traders' concerns have sparked a renewed debate about the government's role in managing markets in Kampala and the need for fair compensation for traders who have invested in these facilities. The outcome of the negotiations between the traders, government, and KCCA remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the traders will not give up their claims without a fight.
Key points
- The traders invested their personal savings and obtained bank loans to construct stalls under the agreement with KCC.
- The government has taken over the market, but the traders are demanding compensation for their investments.
- Lord Mayor Balimwezo has pledged to support the traders' demand and push for compensation to be considered in the 2026/2027 budget.
