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Mbale Central Market leaders accused of stealing goods
Mbale Central Market in Mbale Town
What you need to know:
- Mr Gilbert Odong, the law enforcement officer-in-charge of the market, said the leaders stand to blame for the insecurity and increased thefts in the market.
Mbale. A section of vendors operating in Mbale Central Market in Mbale Town have accused their leaders of stealing their merchandise at night.
The angry vendors, who protested on Monday by closing the market, demanded for immediate elections to replace their leaders led by Mr Ayubu Madoi, the chairperson.
They claim their leaders connive with security guards to open the market at the night and steal their goods.
Mr Muhammad Hamidu, one of the vendors, said: “Whenever we report in the morning, we find some of our commodities missing. When we report to the officials, they seem not bothered.
“They tell us everything will be fine soon.”
He said the leaders have failed to manage the market and it is time they replaced them.
Ms Juliet Nabukwasi, another vendor, said the market leaders are to blame because they have failed to utilise the money collected to protect their merchandise.
She said the market is also chocking with smell due to heaps of uncollected garbage, which chases away customers.
Mr Timothy Magomu, another vendor, said they have also been operating without electricity for the last three weeks.
“We pay our fees as stipulated but they don’t play their part as leaders,” he said.
Mr Madoi, however, dismissed the allegations, saying they are doing everything possible to fight theft.
“We are doing all we can to make sure there is security in the market and the vendors need to work with us instead of betraying and accusing us,” he said.
Mr Gilbert Odong, the law enforcement officer-in-charge of the market, said the leaders stand to blame for the insecurity and increased thefts in the market.
“The leaders have been fighting me whenever I tell them about the theft of the merchandise,” he said.
Mr Odong said the market is supposed to have 10 security guards but currently, it has only four.
The market has more than 2,800 registered vendors.
It has stalls, lockups, a car park, loading and offloading bays, cubicle, paved pitches and kiosks, among others.
The Mbale municipal spokesperson, Mr James Kutosi, acknowledged that the vendors are discontented with their leaders. He said they are planning to hold elections for new leaders.
The Elgon police spokerson, Mr Robert Tukei, said they are investigating the matter.
