President wants Local Authorities to manage public Markets, returns Market bill 2021 to Parliament for reconsideration.
The President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has returned the Market bill 2021 to Parliament for reconsideration and deleting controversial clauses
In her communication to the house on Tuesday, March 7, the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anitah Annet Among said on 19th, she received a communication from the President pursuant to Article 91 (3b) of the constitution of Uganda, and referred the bill to the committee of public service and Local Government for further scrutiny since the house was on recess
In the letter to the Speaker dated 16th January 2023, President Museveni asked Parliament to delete sections 4 (b), Sections 19, 20,21,22,23,24,25,26 and 27, section 28 (3b) and section 30.
“I have received the Market bill 2021 for assent, however, given the problems that have for long time been associated to the management of local markets including extortion of market vendors by the market management committee, existence of landlords in public markets, charging illegal fees and levies etc, there is need to review some of the clauses,” the letter reads.
With section 4 (5) about the establishment of public markets, President Museveni said given the problems that have been associated with the involvement of private persons or companies in the management of government markets, public markets should be developed by local authorities, therefore, the clause should be deleted.
With Sections 19, 20,21,22,23,24,25,26 and 27 about Market Management committee responsibilities, functions, tenure of office, meetings and creation of sub committees, the President said, the involvement of vendors in the management of public markets has been responsible for fueling conflicts in markets arising from exorbitant charges imposed on vendors, unnecessary illegal levies and dues on vendors, creation of landlords in the markets, unfair and unreasonable electricity, water and garbage fees.
He said this also led to creation of factions amongst traders and multiple ownership of stalls, civil servants from Local governments have also been conniving with committees to embezzle money belonging to government revenue and generally engaging in corrupt practices.
“Local authorities should manage public markets directly without direct involvement of vendors in day to day management of markets. Therefore, the clauses should be deleted,” the President said.
With section 28 (3b) he recommended that the word committee should be removed and with section 30 which states the allocation of shops, pitch or stall in a public market, sub section (3) should be amended to give administrative authority powers to determine the composition of allocation committee and its mandate.
“Therefore, in accordance to article 91 (3b) of the constitution, i hereby return the Market bill 2021 to Parliament for reconsideration of clauses mentioned above.” the letter concludes.
