The Minister for Local Government Balaam Ateenyi has ordered the reallocation of stalls at Mbarara Central Market within three days following allegations that wealthy individuals had taken over public trading spaces and were renting them out to ordinary traders.
Balaam said an impromptu inspection had reportedly revealed that private individuals had occupied the entire fourth floor of the market, raising concerns about the management of public facilities and access to affordable trading spaces.
The minister said the market should serve ordinary traders, particularly low-income earners, rather than individuals allegedly using the government facility to collect rent from other business operators.
He directed authorities to register and verify every stall before reallocating the spaces to eligible traders through what he described as a transparent and publicly accountable process.
“Within three days, spaces will be reallocated to eligible traders through a transparent and publicly accountable process,” Balaam said, warning against manipulation, favouritism and illegal subletting.
The directive is intended to ensure that traders who depend on the market for their livelihoods can access stalls without having to pay additional charges to intermediaries.
Balaam also raised concerns over the difference between the rent allegedly collected from traders and the amount remitted to the city council.
According to the minister, some landlords were reportedly charging traders UGX 250,000 per month while paying only UGX 30,000 to the city council for the same spaces.
The alleged difference has raised questions about possible revenue losses and the financial burden placed on small-scale traders operating within the public market.
Balaam insisted that all money collected from public trading facilities must be properly documented, receipted and accounted for, warning against practices that could undermine the management of public revenue.
He called for comprehensive registration of traders, transparent stall allocation and regular public disclosure of revenue generated from the market.
The minister further demanded firm action against anyone found exploiting traders or diverting income that should be accounted for by the relevant authorities.
The planned reallocation will place the registration and verification of stalls at the centre of efforts to restore access to the market for eligible traders.
However, the allegations of private occupation, illegal subletting and discrepancies in rent payments would require verification by the relevant authorities.
Balaam’s directive signals a push to strengthen accountability in the management of public markets and protect small-scale traders from potentially exploitative rental arrangements.