Vendors in the newly commissioned Arua main market have tasked the City authorities to close the temporary Owino market. They argue that the makeshift market along Lemerijoa road has remained operational and thereby affecting business in the main market.
Owino market was created in 2017 to accommodate excess vendors during the commencement of the construction of the new multi-billion main market. According to the vendors, several stalls in the newly-constructed market especially on the first floor have remained empty because some vendors have returned to Owino market.
Samuel Ayoku, a vendor in the main market told URN in an interview that many of them have lost business since customers can not easily access their stalls. Ayoku, who deals in children’s clothes, says that they sometimes go without making any sales for several days.
Zaitun Ato, another vendor says that the low sales have forced several vendors to relocate to other markets, which are easily accessible to customers.
Nelson Dada, the chairperson general of the Arua Market Vendors Association, has confirmed the development of something he blamed on the operations of the temporary market within the central business district. He has tasked the city officials to expedite the relocation of the vendors operating outside the gazetted main market.
Currently, vendors with stalls in the new market pay between Shillings 7,000 and Shillings 10,000 monthly while those with lockup pay between Shillings 100,000 and 250,000 depending on the location. Khemis Muzaidi, the Mayor of Arua City Central Division has appealed for calm among the vendors noting that they will take appropriate measures over the temporary market.
Arua Main market was built with funding from the African Development Bank worth Shillings Shillings Shillings 34.9 billion under the second phase of the Market and Agricultural trade improvement program (MATIP II).