UGANDA, Mbarara | Real Muloodi News | Having completed construction of the state of the art Mbarara Central Market, Roko Construction Limited has handed over the market to Mbarara City Authority.
The government granted Roko Construction the contract to rebuild Mbarara Central Market in 2018 at the cost of UGX. 21.11 billion, as part of The Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Project (MATIP), funded by African Development Bank.
The market is in the heart of Mbarara City, on Bishop Wills and Mbaguta streets. It features 485 vendor stall shelters, a police station, a children’s care centre, an office complex, and water collecting tanks, among other amenities.
The market, which commenced construction in 2018, was supposed to be finished in 2020.
However, due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the contractor was given three contract extensions to finish the job.
According to Danison Blas, Contracts Manager at Roko Construction Ltd, pandemic-related disruptions to supply chains impacted the acquisition of various goods from abroad. He added that financial constraints caused by the pandemic also delayed the task completion.
Mr Blas and Project Manager Stewart Kasibante also expressed application to their team for their excellent work.
The project manager, Eng. Emmanuel Mwebaze stated that the Mbarara market is superior to any other market granted under MATIP: “ROKO has delivered to the quality standards they have been known for the last 50 years.”
According to Geoffrey JJ Ettedu, Assistant Commissioner and National Programs Manager MATIP, Ministry of Local Government, the market is solely for vendors and other low-income workers. He warned political leaders and other business people not to hurry to obtain lockups.
He requested that the local officials rigorously adhere to the list of relocated vendors.
The City Clerk, Asse Babirebe Tumwesigire, stated that the vendors should be aware that the facility is not for free. Vendors will pay a monthly charge to preserve the facility’s sanitation and hygiene.
The chairman of the vendors, Nyombi Mohammed, has requested the Ministry of Local Government and the municipal officials not to hurry to re-allocate the vendors without following the necessary protocol.
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