Arua City Market Vendors Allocated Space

The allocation of space to vendors in the newly constructed Arua Market in Arua City has kicked off. The 28 Billion Shillings market is one of the several markets countrywide that were constructed under the Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme (MATIP-1) – a multi-million dollar project supported by the Government and the African Development Bank.

The market, which will accommodate about 4,000 vendors, will house food stalls, bars and restaurants, banks, clinics, salons, fruit and vegetable stands, butcheries and a daycare centre.

Construction works kicked off in February 2018 but stalled due to the outbreak of covid-19.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Local government commenced the allocation of stalls and pitches to vendors who were registered and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry between 2010 and 2016. According to records, 400 Fish Mongers and Butchers have so far been allocated space.

Some of the vendors have expressed excitement at the commencement of the allocation of space in the new market saying they have suffered enough and need to move into their new market to start working.

Herbert Odama the Peach and Stall Allocation Chairman said there are not many challenges in the allocation of space since some of the stalls and pitches are more than the number of registered vendors.

According to Odama the allocation exercise will last two weeks, adding that any other unregistered vendors may also benefit from the unoccupied stalls,

Lydia Karungi Senior Program Officer in charge of Community Development in MATIP said they are set to allocate over 3,500 spaces to vendors.

According to information from Arua City Finance Department, the Ministry of Local Government has guided that the vendors be given two months’ grace period and they start to pay revenue to the Council.