Paidha, Zombo District: The LCIII Chairperson of Paidha Town Council, Innocent Godfred Onega, has officially handed over a construction site for eight new lock-up shops at Paidha Central Market under a UGX 113 million infrastructure upgrade funded through locally generated revenue.
The project, valued at UGX 112.9 million but rounded to UGX 113 million in the approved budget, was awarded to Blue Moon Technical Services Limited on February 17, 2026. The works are expected to be completed within 100 days.
Once finalized, the additional units will increase the total number of lock-up shops at the market to 58, gradually replacing the ageing mud-walled stalls that have existed for decades.
“The council allocated UGX 113 million from our local revenue collections to execute this work,” Onega said during the site handover.
He commended traders for consistently paying taxes, noting that improved compliance has enabled the council to reinvest in transformative service delivery projects.
Onega assured vendors who previously occupied the demolished structures that they would be considered for reallocation once the new shops are completed and commissioned, subject to application procedures.
Focus on Quality and Legacy
William Okello, Secretary for Works and Transport, described the project as part of a long-term legacy of tangible infrastructure development. “We are leaving behind visible developments such as market modernization and improved roads. Future leadership should sustain this momentum,” he said.
Assistant Town Clerk Wilfred Okethwengu pledged strict supervision throughout the 100-day construction timeline to ensure quality assurance and value for money.
Samson Ovoya, Operations Manager at Blue Moon Technical Services Limited, reaffirmed the contractor’s commitment to timely and quality delivery, citing previous successful projects including renovations at Adhingi Primary School and Paidha Demonstration School.
The project builds on earlier improvements, including the 2023 commissioning of 30 modern retail lock-up units supported by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The council has also recently installed protective shade structures for open-air vendors to shield them from harsh weather.
Known as the “food basket of West Nile,” Paidha Central Market serves as a major trading hub for agricultural commodities such as matooke, beans, maize, coffee, Irish potatoes and avocados, attracting vendors from across West Nile, northern Uganda and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Despite progress, sections of the market still consist of mud-walled stalls with leaking roofs dating back to the 1980s.
Mr Onega described the phased modernization roadmap as both a vendor-growth and revenue-enhancement strategy. “Our phased implementation plan addresses core priorities. We remain steadfast in executing this mandate,” he said.
In FY 2022/23, the market generated UGX 230 million in revenue, with projections rising to UGX 286 million annually — an 18.3% growth — driven by improved infrastructure and increased business volumes.
Vendors welcomed the initiative, though some urged swift implementation to avoid rainy-season disruptions.
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