Hoima Central Market traders demonstrate against street vending in the city

HOIMA, UGANDA: Several vendors from Hoima Central Market are demonstrating against the presence of street vendors outside the market.

The traders say that they no longer receive customers as customers prefer purchasing items outside the market. They also accuse the Hoima city authorities for failing to block operations of street vendors.

On Wednesday morning, the traders displayed their goods outside the Hoima Central Market along Hoima-Fortportal Road in Hoima city.

Annet Kyasiimire one of market vendors says, they have decided to put their goods outside the market along the Hoima-Fortportal Road until their grievances are resolved.
“I purchased cabbages, tomatoes and onions at the beginning of this week, but I received no customer to buy these food staffs and they all perishable, they have started to rotten”. Kyasiimire said.

Kyasiimire adds that she resorted to street vending so as to reduce on the losses and also earn a living.
“At least here on the streets and receiving few customers, so am not going to from vending outside the market until my concerns are resolved by the Hoima city authorities because am a single mother with children to look after”. Kyasiimire added.

Jovia Kusiima also a market vendor in Hoima Central market says for quite long time they have been engaging the Hoima city authorities on this matter but all in vein.
“We have called them several times in our meetings about this matter but all what we receive are empty promises”. Kusiima said.

Meanwhile, at time of filing this report, no Hoima city leader had came out to give a comment on this matter.