The Minister of State for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Kabuye Kyafatogabye, has revealed that the construction of the Kawuku daily market is to commence in January 2025, and it has been prioritized among the 10 markets in the GKMA.
He announced while launching the enumeration exercise of the current Kawuku market vendors on Monday, 18th November, at Kawuku, Katabi Town Council in Wakiso District.
In his speech, Kyafatogabye highlighted that the markets are designed to accommodate more than 1,000 people from the current figures of about 600 to 800 individuals.
“Although the development of markets has faced some delays, Kawuku market is emerging as the top priority because it was specifically chosen, but because it is more prepared compared to others in the plan,” he said.
In addition, the Minister, therefore, explained that the government is focused on developing market spaces to provide work environments for the communities.
“Kawuku already has land secured, adequate space, local leadership
support, and community willingness to vacate the area. We estimate that
about 65% of the work is complete. What remains are the technical aspects of finalizing the designs to proceed with advertisements,” Minister Kyofatogabye noted.
Ronald Kalema the Katabi Town Council chairperson reported to the Minister the major challenges facing the town council being trade order management, especially along the road reserves and in busy trading centers like Abaita Ababiri, Kawuku, and Kabale, among others.
“In Abaita Ababiri, the town council has the Abaita Ababiri daily market, where all the vendors operate, and the council can enforce trade orders to ensure that all vendors leave the reserve and trade in the market. However, in Kawuku, the existing market is very small and in a very bad state that all the vendors can’t be accommodated there, and the market conditions are not to the level of an urban market,” he said.
In addition, Kalema noted that in the FY 2022/23, the council embarked on the program of upgrading the market and it started with the procurement of a consultant to draw plans and bills of quantities for a new modern market in Kawuku with the essence to use these plans and bills of quantities to lobby for funders for the new market since the council has limited funds.
“When we heard about the GMK project, we decided to utilize the opportunity, and we slotted in our request for the market to be developed. I once again thank the GMK project under your leadership for accepting to develop this market to a modern standard that will provide more space for vendors and other support utilities,” the Katabi town council chairperson remarked.
Kalema also noted that they have closely worked with the consultant AWE engineers and the ministry technical team to update the designs and bills of quantities for the new proposed market and several meetings have been conducted with the vendors to have their input on the design, and so far, the council and the vendors are happy with the new design, and there is no objection to the project.
He however raised a few challenges with the project to the Minister’s attention and the GMK team including; no funds by the town council to relocate the vendors in the period that the market will be under construction and therefore requested assistance in the construction of the basic temporary structures for the market and the basic utilities for the vendors.
“Secondly, UNRA has a proposed road (Kawuku Nakawuka Road Link) passing near the market, less than 30 meters, and in between the road and the market, that land belongs to individuals and thus the council needs to acquire this land for expansion of the market, parking for the market, and also proposes the face of the market. I request on behalf of the council to be supported in the acquisition of this land as the council has no funds for compensation however the affected individuals are already identified and the council is in the process of meeting them for planning purposes,” Kalema highlighted.
The Katabi Town Council boss, therefore, appreciated the Minister for this major project and also pledged to constantly monitor the project once construction starts so that there is value for money for the project and also ensure that the newly proposed market will improve the livelihood of the people.
On behalf of the vendors, David Mugumya, the Kawuku daily market chairperson, appreciated the government through the minister of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, the leadership of Katabi town council together with Wakiso district for this mega project, which he says will be of a great value to the community.
Other dignitaries available at the event included the Wakiso district chairperson, Matia Lwanga Bwanika, the Wakiso district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), and area councilors, among others.
Meanwhile, Katabi town council with 23 cells and 44 elected councilors has been so far offered with now two projects by the government of Uganda in terms of central government releases, which are key in the running of the town council and the recent projects to be funded by the GMK project, that is, the Upgrade of Sewabuga Kabale – Bunono road and Kawuku Daily market.
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