By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu
Regional
Chong Chuing International Construction (CICO), a Chinese company that contracted the construction of the modern Kabale Central market yesterday handed over the market to the government after the completion works.
The construction of this market started in December 2019 at a tune of over 23 billion shillings, under Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement program – MATIP II project with funding from the African Development Bank(ADB) and the Government of Uganda.
Yesterday, officials from CICO Construction Company led by the Company project manager Mou Shaojiu handed over the market to the government through the Ministry of Local Government Officials led by the Ministry Infrastructure Engineer Emmanuel Mwebaze and the Municipal Authorities led by the Mayor of Kabale Municipality Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha.
Speaking at the handover ceremony this afternoon held in the market hall, Eng Mwebaze said that the construction of the market was expected to take two years but was extended to one more year, due several challenges that included Covid-19 lockdown and making changes in the market designs among others.
He said that the Municipal Authorities now have the mandate of re-allocation of vendors to the lock-ups following the guidance of the Ministry of Local Government. He added that the official commissioning of the market will be at a later stage when vendors have occupied it. He cautioned the vendors to maintain the sanitation of the market since it is at international level.
Speaking at the same function, the Mayor of Kabale Municipality Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha thanked the President of Uganda and the then Prime Minister of Uganda, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, Kabale District leaders and municipal council leaders that fought hard to have this beautiful market.
He added that they expect to occupy the market by 15th December this year, after the verification of vendors’ lists and zoning of lockups for each section of business. The vendors had been relocated to Kigongi in Central Division and Mwanjari in Southern Division where they have been operating from.
