By Sadique Bamwita
KAMPALA-The Executive Director Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Hajat Sharifah Buzeki, has officially conducted the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of Ggaba Market in Makindye Division, worth Shs.32 billion.
The project will be completed within two years, with an additional one year for the Authority to review whether the contractor heed to the required project design.
The construction will be undertaken by Ms.Ambitious Construction Ltd which won the bid, having competed against 12 other construction companies.
Hajat Buzeki explained that supervision of the project will be done by SEGAMU Architectural Consultants which also thumped seven other companies to win the supervisory role.
According to the ED, the proposed Ggaba Market will have 743 stalls, 173 lockups , 60shops , 47 pitches,168 restaurants, modern Day Care Center for breastfeeding mothers, ample parking space for loading and offloading goods, water treatment plant and a standby generator.
She said the Construction of this market is in response to the cabinet directive in which President Yoweri Museveni directed the Authority to construct at least two markets in each Division.
Hajat Buzeki also revealed that the construction of Ggaba Market aligns with President Museveni’s manifesto 2026-2031, in which he emphasized construction of government markets to absorb farmers’ produce hence boosting agricultural production.
She noted that the construction of Ggaba Market will relieve anxiety and worries from street vendors and hawkers who were affected by the enforcement of Trade order which she said has brought order in Kampala City.
Hajat Buzeki expressed gratitude to the Local Council authorities for their input towards the project design, and urged them to monitor the project effectively by ensuring taxpayers’ money is put to good use .
She appreciated the World Bank for funding the project construction, pledging the Authority’s commitment to effectively monitor the project to it’s completion.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs Kabuye Kyofatogabye is optimistic that the proposed market will greatly address workspaces for market and street vendors, urging all traders to embrace designated trading spaces as the Authority continues to enforce the Trade Order.
The Kampala Lord Mayor, Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga, challenged the contractor to deliver quality work and complete the project within the stipulated period of two years.
He also appealed to market vendors to maintain good sanitation at the market and its surroundings. He further warned that since Ggaba market is near the shores of Lake Victoria, pollution of the lake could undermine the fish trade and livelihoods that depend on it.
