By Sadique Bamwita
The Executive Director Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Hajat Sharifah Buzeki, has dismissed rumours circulating on social media that the government intends to remove St. Balikudembe Market saying the allegations are totally false and should be disregarded or ignored.
Hajat Buzeki said such rumours are intended to antagonize the authority’s plan of resettling former market vendors and hawkers to occupy over 1,200 workplaces available in government markets.
While addressing both departmental market leaders and market vendors who were recently affected by the illegal demolition of a Market structure at St.Balikudembe market, Hajat Buzeki assured market vendors that the authority has no plans at all to remove St. Balikudembe market popularly known as Owino market adding that the authority is in possession of the original land title which clear shows the size and the boundary of the disputed market.
Hajat Buzeki told market vendors and their leaders that in case the authority comes up with a bigger plan to redevelop St.Balikudembe market, it will have to first inform them on top of showing them the architectural plan before any redevelopment takes place there.
On this note, she appealed to market vendors to concentrate on their businesses uninterrupted.
On the demolition which occured a week ago, Hajat Buzeki said:
“I’m surprised that the illegal demolition took place yet it’s very clear that before any demolitions take place- the developer has to first seek a demolition permit from KCCA. We have not established the exact person behind the illegal demolition at St. Balikudembe market structure but we reported the matter to police and they’re investigating the matter. While those who were found at the scene were apprehended and produced before court, ” Hajat Buzeki explained.
She assured market vendors who were affected by the demolition at St.Balikudembe market structure that the developer will have to compensate them.
Hajat Sharifah Buzeki revealed that the authority has received an application from a developer to demolish the remaining part of the market structure without affecting nearby traders.
“We have conditioned the developer to demolish down the remaining part safely and not to build another building there because it is in a channel reserve for Nakivubo Drainage Channel, Said Hajat Buzeki.
“I have directed KCCA market master- Mutebi to collect detailed information from the affected market vendors. This information shall be submitted to us to enable us know the exact number which was affected” she said.
On the issue of Nakivubo Drainage Channel, Hajat Buzeki revealed that the redevelopment plan was approved by the Ministry of works and Transport, KCCA, Ministry of water, Office of the president and National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) adding that these entities are mandated to monitor the project to it’s completion .
The Director in charge of infrastructure development and building standards at KCCA, Eng. Justus Akankwasa, confirmed that the developer who demolished St. Balikudembe market structure didn’t seek permission from the authority and assured all the affected market vendors that they will be compensated.
Eng. Akankwasa told market vendors that the authority plans to erect a public toilet facility at St. Balikudembe market to solve the issue of toilet crisis at the market.
Meanwhile, traders who attended the meeting left with smiles after Hajat Buzeki pledged to address their grievances with immediate effect and to their satisfaction.
