A crowd of angry traders at the the market protest recently. Photo by Raymond Mayanja.
A group of city councillors today morning camped at Natete market in a move aimed at blocking the anticipated take over of the market through legal means.
By 7am some city councillors were seen entering the market venue.
Court had set today to make its ruling on whether RR Transporters the firm which claims to have bought the land starts to develop it.
But today court is likely not to rule on the matter because the judicial officers are on strike.
The Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago blocked the transaction last month, when he visited the market, saying the land transaction was illegal, insisting that the land belongs to KCCA.
Some vendors are accusing the market leadership of selling the land without their consent to RR Transporters.
Lukwago also ordered the market vendors to stop remitting the market dues, until the matter is resolved by his council. This forced RR Transporters to sue KCCA.
The city councillors are arguing that it might be difficult to defeat RR Transporters in court and the only option available now, is to fight the battle politically.
Rubaga Division deputy mayor Asuman Ntale also supported the councillors move to camp at the market.
“I am also going to join them,” he said this morning.
On Monday, market vendors paralysed business in Natete and along Masaka Road for nine hours protesting the giveaway of the land. They blocked vehicles from using the road and motorists had to use the Northern By-pass, hiking the transport fares.
Police had to use teargas to disperse them. In the evening, Rubaga division mayor Joyce Sebugwawo met the traders and urged to resume business.
The council meeting chaired by Lukwago last week tasked four committees, legal, Gender Audit and Revenue to rush to court and lodge in a formal application to join the case.
The councillors insisted that the market was constructed using World Bank loan, during the tenure of the late John Sebaana Kizito, as the city mayor.
However, councillors told city executive director Jennifer Musisi during the council meeting not to include Caleb Mugisha, KCCA legal officer because he is business partner with RR Transporters Ltd.
They also accuse Mugisha of being involved in selling the land. Ntale, quoting Mugisha’s letter, he wrote to Rubaga division, saying KCCA is not in possession of the land.
Kampala minister Beti Kamya this week also set up a committee to probe the wrangles surrounding the sale of Natete Market.
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