KAMPALA, UGANDA – Renowned businessman Ssalongo Drake Lubega has broken his silence on the ongoing dispute with traders at the Pentagon building, a major commercial hub in Kampala.
Lubega’s response comes after traders accused him of micromanaging their operations and restricting their ability to sub-rent their rooms.
However, Lubega painted a different picture, citing instances of property destruction and obstruction of corridor passages by the traders.
“The traders in the building have been causing destruction of property and obstructing corridor passages to other levels,” Lubega said. “The congestion is severe, with passages to other floors and customer access severely impeded.”
According to Lubega, the traders operating on the basement floor, who sell shoes, have also encroached on the food court area, transforming it into a hardware section.
“Their intention is to restrict customer movement to other floors, where clothing stores are located, and instead, confine them to the basement level for shoe purchases,” Lubega explained.
Despite multiple meetings and warnings, Lubega said the traders have refused to comply with his requests to keep the corridors clear.
“We have removed the unnecessary mesh barriers they had erected, ensuring that people can move freely, as is the case in other buildings and floors,” Lubega said.
The dispute has highlighted the challenges faced by property owners and traders in maintaining a harmonious and productive business environment.
