RDC threatens to arrest politicians fueling conflicts among vendors

26 January 2024, 5:00 pm

By Otim Moses Arapmoi

The Kitgum Deputy Resident District Commissioner has spoken toughly against politicians who are fueling conflicts among vendors in the newly opened Kitgum Main Market and has threatened arrest.

Ever since the market was opened on January 6^th, 2024, vendors dealing in cabbage and silver fish have failed to get space to sell their merchandise.

Meanwhile, according to the Chairperson of the Market Vendors, Ms. Concy Atim, some vendors have become defiant by occupying stalls that they weren’t allocated. She adds that some vendors have political backing and in some instances, politicians have directed where and how they should operate; something she says is making their work difficult.

Now, during a live telephone interview on Tembo FM’s LAGAM earlier on Friday 26th January 2024, Hajj Walire Marijan, the Kitgum Deputy RDC, cautioned politicians to stay away from resettlement of vendors into the main market.

Hajj Walire said those who will be identified as catalysts of conflicts among the vendors and technocrats will be arrested and prosecuted in the courts of law. He however asked the politicians to play their oversight role and stop usurping responsibilities of the technocrats in the allocation of stalls and lockups in the Main Market.

He stressed that the market is for belongs to all Ugandans and it should be used to transform the region into the money economy.