High court in Kabale has ordered Kabale Municipal Council to pay Kabale Central Market Traders Association Limited Shs 100 million as general damages for contempt of court.
“The respondent be ordered to pay to the applicant the sum of Ugx,100,000,000/=as general damages for contempt of court” Read a court ruling that was signed by the Kabale High Court Judge, Justice Moses kawumi Kazibwe.
Kabale Central Market Traders Association Limited, an association allegedly comprising of over 200 businessmen from Kabale town led by their chairman Simon Mashemererwa had protested the demolition of Kabale Central Market to pave way for the construction of a new market that was projected to cost at least Shs24 billion.
The group protested saying the Kabale Municipal council had not properly planned to relocate the business group before demolition of the market.
This led the association to run to court, seeking a court injunction against relocating the business community.
Kabale High court Judge Kazibwe indeed served council with an injunction, not to demolish the market until further notice.
However, the Municipal authorities didn’t honor the injunction which prompted Kabale Central Market Traders Association Limited to run to the same court, accusing Kabale Municipal council contempt of court.
In his ruling, Justice Kazibwe has ordered council to pay Shs100 million in compensation and the mayor and his town clerk arrested.
“The respondent’s Town clerk and the mayor be arrested and committed to the Civil Prison for contempt of court” Read the ruling.
In October this year, Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha, Kabale Municipality Mayor told watchdog Uganda that a Chinese company, Chinese International Construction Company [CICCO] had won the contract to construct Kabale Central Market.
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