Police was on Monday engaged in running battles with vendors from Nateete Market who took to the streets to protest the alleged sale of their market.
Led by an interim committee chosen amongst themselves, the traders closed the market and took to the main road to vend their stuff.
The vendors are unhappy with the alleged sale of their market
The traders are unhappy with Kampala Capital City Authority who they accuse of selling off the market to an investor.
“We have been paying dues to KCCA for the last 10 or so years; it is appalling that they turned against us,’’ a one Mukiibi Nyanzi told this website.
It is alleged that Nateete market was sold to R.R Transporters Limited under the watchful eye of KCCA, which owned the market.
The vendors were furious that the market changed hands without then being consulted as stakeholders and sitting tenants.
Police try to calm the protesters
Lubaga Division’s biggest market is said to be home to over 10,000 vendors operating directly and indirectly from the place located along Wakaliga road.
Musisi
The vendors turned the guns onto KCCA Executive Director Jenifer Musisi, whom they labelled as a mafia for disowning them and allowing the takeover of the market.
The vendors slammed the head of KCCA Jenifer Musisi as a hypocrite
“She is among the people failing President Museveni. Why would she allow one individual to displace over 10,000 people whose livelihood is the market,’’ the angry vendors yelled.
“She is working to bring down her boss (President Museveni).’’
The vendors closed the main road in protest
Carrying placards, the angry vendors poured into the main road blocking traffic to and from the city centre for over 4 hours. Anti- riot police had to fire bullets and teargas to disperse them.
Kitatta Sent Away
The angry vendors sent away Lubaga NRM chairman and Boda Boda 2010’s Abdu Kitatta who tried to convince them to calm down.
He tried to convince them that he had taken their concerns to the president.
They demanded that President Museveni comes in person to speak to them.
There was chaos as police officers, bodaboda 2010 members and crime preventers clashed at the scene.
It took the intervention of Katwe DPC Frantile Lwamusaayi to calm all parties that were fighting for supremacy at Nateete. Meanwhile police has taken over security of the market .