KAMPALA – Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) have launched the construction of a new market in Kitintale, Nakawa Division.
The market, which will cost Shs7 billion, will have five floors and 12,000 lockups.
Speaking at the handover of the project to Sarjan Construction Limited in Kitintale on Wednesday, KCCA project manager James Semuwembe said the construction is funded by the government of Uganda.
“We are happy to say that the money to be used to construct this market is not a loan, it is not a grant but fully funded by the government of Uganda,” said Eng Semuwembe.
The market will also house a youth innovation centre and a business centre. The youth innovation centre is prearranged to be a four-level facility which will provide affordable shared workspaces for youth to do their businesses.
Mr Ronald Kiggundu, the chairman of the traders, said they hope the new market will save them from high rent bills that they have been paying to the landlord of the current market.
“We have a market association that has been helping in the payment of the rent to the landlord and we’ve been paying Shs1.8million monthly,” he said.
Mr Moses Mugisha Okwera, the LC5 councillor for Nakawa division, requested that the new Kitintale market grounds should remain in the custody of the KCCA and not to be subdued into leases which led up to confusion and disputes.
“We have issues that always come up after such developments are made with other people and companies asking for leases and subleases which later ends into fights for the land. So we ask that the government continues to have this land under its custody to safeguard our vendors even in the future.”
The construction of the market, which will start on 5th August this year, is expected to have been completed by 4th August next year.
This project is part of the KCCA plans to construct and redevelop at least 6 markets in the city over the next five years. Some of the other markets that are already under construction include Kasubi market, Busega market which is being developed into an urban market.
