Ugandans still love Mzee Museveni much as you can observe
President Museveni yesterday toured the capital’s business district; interfacing with traders, vendors, arcade owners etc.
Very lively engagements he had, plus warm reception from the crowds that gathered to receive him. Issues discussed ranged from high rent charged by landlords, high electricity tariffs, exorbitant rates for places of convenience etc.
Government will fix most of these. He also appealed to the traders to venture into manufacturing, promising government support to those who take the leap. You can see some images here from the energetic tour.
Mzee Museveni assured them: “In our culture they say when someone kills(okwetuga) him/herself we don’t cry, so you people in Kampala did that, I heard someone say I have spent 25 years without coming these ends yes, because you don’t like me, you always vote people who are against me, now see Mayor Lukwago,the Kampala MP, why should I come here”. You are to blame for committing suicide not me”.
He Spoke to traders at Nakasero Market and the Old Taxi Park. He also met shopping arcade owners and tenants at Qualicell Bus Terminal and concluded the tour at Kiseka Market.
The traders concerns were largely about high rental fees, high electricity tariffs imposed by landlords and exorbitant charges for sanitary facilities among others.
His view is that the markets should be reserved for low income earners. Rich people should not interfere in ownership of markets. Previous bad leadership in the city caused the sale of markets to rich people who have inconvenienced and driven off the poor from these facilities.
He said that the government is working out modalities of retrieving these market titles from the rich and hand ownership back to vendors. Kampala Capital City Authority will help oversee management of these markets.
“Whereas I commend traders in Owino and Nakasero markets for working hard to create wealth through their Saccos and responding to our NRM call, I am unimpressed by the poor state of the Old Taxi Park,” Mzee asserted.
He added, “I am told this is partly due to the leadership wrangles among the taxi park stakeholders facilitated by opposition leaders in the city. Stop electing selfish leaders who only care about their salaries. However, we shall fix this matter.”
Mzee Museveni said it is extortion for landlords to charge electricity fees higher than known Umeme rates. It is illegal and it has to stop. I have directed the minister of energy together with KCCA to ensure this stops immediately. KCCA should also stop the practice of charging fees for places of convenience.
He urged the business community to venture into manufacturing so that we cut down on imports of items like clothes, whose raw materials we have in Uganda. The Government will support those willing to get into manufacturing.
There will be further meetings with arcade owners to discuss issues of “mistreatment” by the Uganda Revenue Authority. The government will also support the traders Saccos.