MOROTO – The new multi-billion market which has been under construction in Moroto district, will be ready for business by December 2019.
The Moroto market is being constructed under the government’s Markets and Agriculture Trade Improvement Programme (MATIP) with funding from the government of Uganda and the Arab Bank of Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
The construction of the epic commercial project is being supervised by the Ministry of Local Government after which it will be handed over to the Moroto Municipal Authority upon completion.
It has a sitting capacity large enough to accommodate 4,000 traders.
Mr. Isaiah Tumwesigye, the Moroto Town Clerk told PML Daily on Sunday, September 1, that the market will be fully operational by December 2019.
“We have assured our traders to be ready to enter the market before 25th of December this year,” he said.
According to Mr. Tumwesigye the market which is being constructed by Ambitious Construction Limited (ACL) has cost government a colossal sum of UGX 20billion.
He said the market will be a relief to most traders who have been running their business in dilapidated buildings around the town.
Mr. Tumwesigye pledged that after the completion of the market, the Municipal Council will soon remove all the containers that are cluttering the town’s main streets.
“We have very many containers that are being used as shops in our streets so we are waiting for this market to be completed and we shall push everyone in the market and no more containers will be allowed in the town,” he said.
The new market has shops, stalls, open spaces, toilets, a spacious parking lot plus ramps for easy access by people with Disabilities (PWDs).
Mr Samuel Lokong, one of the traders could not hold his excitement to operate his business in the new commercial structure saying he has been making losses in his business.
He said the house he operates in is made of mud and wattle it has no burglar proofing and is therefore prone to thieves who can break in any time they want.
“Am very happy because my business will not be interrupted by thieves stealing my products since I will be in a permanent and safe building,” he said with excitement.
“We are very happy to Government for the Market because some of the traders have died due to pressure when they discover that their merchandise was stolen by thieves,” said Betty Wapukulu a Moroto-based trader.
