Mukono Market Vendors Resist Closure of Market by LDUs

Bya: Hassan Bulesa

Vendors at Kame valley market, Mukono Municipality yesterday resisted closure of their market by Local Defense Unit officers.

LDU officers tried to forcefully close the market without explaining to the vendors whose directive they were implementing.

As soon as they stepped into the market they ordered all traders to vacate on top of stopping entrants including buyers.

LDUs preventing buyers from entering the market

Boda riders who operate around the market were severely beaten forcing them to abandon their motorcycles and later closed all stalls and shops which deal in different merchandises such as clothes, shoes and electrical apparatuses.

However, traders who operate in this market turned angry with action of these LDUs for just turning up and ordering them to vacate it without giving them any warning plus the reason why they are closing it.

LDUs trying to arrest a vendor

Peter Kayongo a councilor at Mukono Central Division who also has a stall in this market informed The Scribe News that they have tried to implement all the Standard Operation Procedures in this place as directed by COVID-19 district task force but they have been surprised to see the LDUs trying to close the market.

He also condemned the of closure of shops operating outside the main market citing that these have no connection with the market and the President allowed them to operate their businesses.

Some of the traders in this market claim that the problem might have risen from the refusal of some traders and the market customers to give money to the deployed LDUs on the entrances and exits of this market and buying face masks from sold by the same LDUs on the entry points of this market.

We have done every measure as advised from putting on masks, washing hands, social distancing and others but these LDUs are not considering all these they just turned  up and started beating traders and buyers who were found inside this market.

The chairperson of this market Geoffrey Sserunjogi, has supported the action of the LDUs saying that this was a reminder to all the traders and the customer on the standard operation procedures which they had slowly started forgetting.

Fred Bamwine, the Resident District Commissioner for Mukono District who is also the head of district COVID-19 task force on a phone interview informed The Scribe News that its true the people in the market have not been putting on face masks and they had planned to close this market. But he was not aware of this operation carried out by the LDUs.

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