Lubaga South MP Hon. Mukasa Aloysius has condemned the violent operation carried out today by Kampala City managers -KCCA, in which Busega Market traders were evicted, saying it was not only unfair but also illegal.
Hon. Mukasa’s remarks follow a violent operation in Lubaga this morning in which joint enforcement teams from Kampala City Authority (KCCA) Uganda Police, UPDF and Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) demolished shops and stalls in the newly-constructed Busega Market, leaving property worth millions destroyed and traders counting losses.
Mukasa, the area MP, intervened after receiving complaints from traders who were in distress following an early morning snap operation. The traders, some of them bonafide owners of the land near the market woke up to a rude shock to see their properties razed down by tractors without due notice, allegedly on orders of Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
The traders numbering close to 500 also wondered why PM Nabbanja issued demolition orders with a ruling from the High Court on the matter is still pending. According to witnesses, some the evictees include traders who have been on the land since 2009 and have titles for the land near the market.
On 02 August 2022, Nabbanja visted Busega market and traders reported to her the lack of space for creating an offloading area for trucks which bring food to the market. As a mitigation measure, Nabbanja endorsed a plan to demolish several stalls near the market (belonging to traders) but after due compensation. This however was not done prompting traders to petition the High Court, and the ruling was due on 21st October 2022.
Upon intervention into the matter today, the traders reported to Hon. Mukasa how they lost mechandize, items like fridges were crushed, and properties confisicated in the operation. Others who opted to shift to the market were also blocked leading to huge losses.
“If the leaders in government really believes in the rule of law, how can they sanction such an operation which has resulted into loss of property? why won’t they wait for a court ruling before the demolition is enforced” Mukasa querried.
He said he has been handed a list of claimants from Busega Market which he will table in Parliament immediately the house returns from recess, and forward a copy to the Prime Minister’s office in an effort to demand justice for traders.