Tororo traders run to parliament over irregularities in market lockup, stall allocation

Traders in Tororo central main market under their umbrella body of Tororo Lockup Owners and Vendors Association have petitioned Parliament over alleged irregularities in the allocation of lockup shops and stalls.

In the petition presented by Tororo Municipality MP, Apollo Yeri Ofwono on Wednesday, 23 September 2021, the traders state that the allocation process by Tororo Municipal Council was marred with irregularities and illegalities.

Ofwono said that Tororo Municipal Council with support from the World Bank funded Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme approached the traders with shops in the proposals to redevelop Market.
Ofwono, however, added that the traders opposed the idea with concerns that having developed and possessed the market for over 30 years, their stake in it would be jeopardized.

Ofwono said that following a court judgement on the aforementioned impasse, the terms were that the market be redeveloped and upon completion, the Tororo Lockup Owners and vendors Association would be given opportunity to collect rent from the said market and that the said lockup shop owners be re-allocated lockups on the ground floor of the newly constructed market upon completion.

Ofwono said that the Municipal Council failed to live up to the terms, adding that non-eligible members of the Tororo Lockup Owners and vendors Association were illegally allocated lockups and stalls.

”Municipal Council Authorities conspired with nine other business persons in Tororo town to register a company called Tororo Market Business Association contrary to the already existing Tororo Lockup Owners and Vendors Association with the malicious aim of empowering non-eligible persons to get allocated lockup shops and stalls in the market,” Ofwono added.

It was further noted by the petitioners that the procedures of allocation as agreed upon in a court judgement were not followed and that is also why there were no minutes taken to that effect.

The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah referred the matter to the Minister of Local Government and the Ministry responsible for markets to handle and report back to Parliament in 10 days.