By George Bukenya
Traders in Kisekka Market are decrying for their land allegedly being given to Tycoon Bosco Muwonge by KCCA for development of a bus terminal without compensation has it was directed by President Museveni.
Reliable sources revealed to Dailystarnews that traders have petitioned President Museveni to intervene into their matters concerning taking over their land by real Estate mogul Muwonge when KCCA hasn’t compensated them.
KCCA has started clearing land and constructing bridges connecting Namayiba Bus Terminal for Muwonge to Kisekka market area which has been cleared and fenced off for development.
The Traders say that their lease was still on going and Kisekka Market wasn’t among the 16 markets managed by KCCA. However President Museveni had multiple meeting in State House Entebbe and was unable to meet them, he ordered one of his lawyers Kiconco to initiate investigations to find out the truth of the matter.
The Executive Director of KCCA Dorothy Kisaka last year told Journalist that the two and half free acres of land at Kisekka market will be cleared and developed well to accommodate mechanics on streets who can’t afford paying for lockups but it seems the plan has changed now and KCCA is developing the area for the bus terminal.
Kampala Central mayor Salim Uhuru has confirmed that KCCA is not going to develop any market premises at Kisekka market area saying that this matter will be discussed by his council and it will also investigate and produce a report on how KCCA took over market and the council will sideline with the traders to fight for what belongs to them.
Traders who are in Kasolo’s camp the former chairman before KCCA took over, intimated to Dailystarnews that they learnt about KCCA allocating their land to Tycoon and now planned for a meeting on 13th April 2024 to discuss on how they can fight for their property.
Kasolo said they paid KCCA UGX 1.52 billion to secure land lease for the 3.5 acres, they had used so far one acre on which they constructed a three stored building before President Museveni made a directive ordering KCCA to repose all government markets that had been leased to vendors.
He said that some of the traders who had paid their money for construction have been allocated shop lockups and the remaining land they were planning to construct other buildings for other members who paid but had not yet received.
Godfrey Kayita the chairman of mechanics who do their work on streets at Kisekka market area said they are also surprised because all along they knew KCCA was planning for them but they have are getting information that KCCA is now going to allocate the said land to the Tycoon.
The deputy spokesperson of KCCA Robert Kalumba said the authorities plan for the construction of market premises hasn’t changed and they are just leveling the land and graveling at the level where it can’t flood during the rainy period.
The manager of Tycoon Muwonge real Estate businesses Juma Kiyingi Bbosa denied having any hand in the ongoing development at Kisekka market land even it’s a prime land that is good for buildings.
“What is going on at Kisekka market is being purely done by KCCA traders therefore should remain calm because my boss Muwonge has no intentions to take over their land.’’ Kiyingi said.