Minister for local government Rapheal Magyezi has ordered for the arrest of more than five Entebbe municipal council leaders that are accused of obtaining money from market vendors illegally.
In 2018 Entebbe municipal council embarked upon constructing a modernized tax park funded by world bank.
A sum of more than 18 bn were to be used for the completion of this project.
Before the construction, vendors who were owning stalls in the said area were told to find alternative working spaces within Entebbe till the completion of the said work.
In February this year this new park was unveiled by the mayor Fabrice Rulinda , having 249 stalls to be occupied by the vendors.
Since the unveiling of this mega park, vendors haven’t been satisfied with the way the stalls were given out,as some vendors who were originally owning stalls claim to have been left out.
In an abrupt meeting with was organized by Minister Magyezi himself, vendors cried foul as they narrated to the him how they are paying highly to operate im those stalls.
It also came to the Minister’s attention that some vendors who rented stalls from the council, were subrented and some were sold off at about 25 m each.
Vendors also informed the minister about some illegal stalls that were constructed by some of the municipal council leaders and some individuals, they added that some councillors extorted money from them promising to give them stalls but in vain.
In his speech minister Raphael Magyezi ordered for the arrest of more than five individuals including councillors namely, councillor Jackie Mirembe, Yasin Semanda, NRM chairperson for Division B Nalwoga Mariam and her daughter Michelle, Wandera Mangen, among others as investigations start.
Its said that most of the stalls are empty due to the high charges demanded by some leaders which prevents vendor from occupying them.
Magyezi questioned all owners of illegals stalls to remove them with immediate effect, in a bid to restore trade order in Entebbe.
He gave out all stalls to sitting tenants and banned “landlords” saying that its only Entebbe municipal council that owns stalls.
He also promised to work upon other related issues of Kitooro market of lack of power supply and water.
He also promised to harmonise tax drivers who have failed to agree on working together thus having two groups of tax drivers in Entebbe.
The meeting was attended by DRDC entebbe Hakim Birigwa, Wakiso RDC Jacline Mbabazi, Hon Kakembo Mbwatekamwa the area Mp, municipal town clerk, mayor Fabrice Rulinda among others.