UGANDA, Entebbe | Real Muloodi News | A group of Entebbe merchants has accused local leaders of unfairly distributing shops and stalls in the newly constructed Kitooro Taxi Park, claiming that municipal councillors have allocated the spaces to themselves instead of vendors.
Dennis Magezi, a former vendor at Kitooro Taxi Park, stated that merchants were evicted in 2017 to allow for the construction of a modern facility, with assurances that they would be allocated lock-up shops upon completion. However, he claims they have been left out.
“It is the leaders, especially municipal councillors, who have taken the lock-up shops, leaving us stranded,” Magezi said Tuesday.
When construction began in 2017, over 100 vendors were displaced onto the streets of Entebbe Town. The project was completed in January 2025, but vendors claim they have not been granted access to the new facility.
“We are deeply disappointed as trade in Entebbe is declining due to the dishonesty of the municipal council’s political leadership. We should be operating within the taxi park, but it remains desolate because the lock-ups were allocated to politicians,” Magezi added.
Some vendors, who have been working from roadside kiosks since 2017, have been given 14 days to vacate their locations to allow for roadworks. They have rejected the directive, arguing that they have no alternative space.
“We have received eviction notices, yet the taxi park remains inaccessible to us. Those who have acquired stalls and lock-ups are not traders but politicians and municipal council officials, who are now renting them out at Shs600,000 each, an exorbitant fee,” one vendor stated.
Francis Ntundubaire, who previously ran a business in Kitooro Taxi Park, expressed similar frustration.
“Our leaders have betrayed us. We signed documents confirming that we would be prioritised once the new structure was complete. However, when the list was released, our names were missing. We have nowhere to go because the leaders have taken over,” Ntundubaire said.
Margaret Byaleero, another affected vendor, added: “I was promised a shop after construction, but to my dismay, others have taken them. We demand justice.”
John Mugabi, the director of Liberty and Economic Development and chairperson of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Entebbe, also expressed concern over the situation.
“It is shocking that municipal leaders, who should protect vendors, are instead taking control of the lock-ups. We have evidence that many councillors have acquired them, and we will explore all avenues to ensure vendors receive justice,” Mugabi stated.
However, Entebbe Town Clerk Emmanuel Mugisha Gakyalo defended the allocation process, explaining that the new taxi park was designed to generate revenue and was open to all who could afford the rent.
“The council has the discretion to allocate space to those who can pay, including leaders. There is no law prohibiting leaders from owning lock-ups in taxi parks. The existing restrictions apply only to public markets,” Gakyalo said.
He added that those who were landlords in the old taxi park may receive special consideration.
The government sanctioned the reconstruction of Kitooro Taxi Park in 2017 under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program, funded by the World Bank, to improve Entebbe’s infrastructure.
The first phase of the Entebbe merchants’ business hub, Kitooro Taxi Park, was completed in 2020 at a cost of Shs7.2 billion. The second phase, intended to add two additional floors to the complex, was estimated at Shs5 billion.
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