KAMPALA – A new law is in the offing that would give chance to individual Ugandans to own markets, a move that would likely put an end to the monopoly Local Governments have had in running markets across the country.
The drafting of the legislation gained shape during the 11th February 2020 plenary sitting where Parliament gave a green light to Margaret Namubiru Rwobushaija (Workers Representative) to introduce a private members bill entitled the Establishment and Management of Markets Bill, 2020.
While tabling her motion seeking leave of Parliament to introduce the private member’s bill, Rwobushaija said that the Establishment and Management of Markets Bill 2020, seeks to repeal the Markets Act Cap 94 of 1942, to provide for the establishment, ownership, and management of markets in Uganda, to make provision for the Market Management Committee; and for related matters to minimize on the current legal battles experienced in different markets.
Rwobushaija said that the bill will, among other things, provide for the establishment of enhanced designs and sufficient space in markets.
Her motion seeking leave of Parliament was seconded by the Workers representatives to Parliament like; Charles Bakabulindi and Agnes Kunihira who argued that there is need for vendors to be involved in the process of tendering so as they also win tenders of the markets to generate revenue to better their income and lives.