Hoima Central Market vendors held a demonstration on Wednesday evening to protest the lack of Electricity in the market for the last two weeks.

They closed all the entrances leading to the market, accusing Hoima City authorities of failing to pay electricity bills to Umeme.

The market reportedly owes Umeme over 16 million shillings in electricity bills.

The Vendors at Hoima Central Market claimed that they collect and hand over money for electricity every month but the city authority does not remit the money it to UMEME

Transcriptions; The reasons we have to demonstrate are mainly on the issue of water and electricity. We have water from National water and underground water but the lack of power in the market has brought all these challenges because we use electricity to pump that water. The debt we have was accumulated by the previous Municipality leadership but none of the vendors is being demanded.

Transcriptions; every month we pay for electricity but we don’t know why we get disconnected. We pay all the taxes and none is being demanded. We even went to the town Clerk and he promised to help us but he did not. We have two meters, one is for the vendors while another is managed by the city but the city does not pay their bill.

The vendors claim that they complained to the city authorities but nothing has been done to help them.

They also complained of poor hygiene in the market due to lack of running water and they fear that there might be a Cholera outbreak.

The vendors locked the market for over 7 hours until the police and the Hoima East Division Deputy Resident City Commissioner intervened.

The Hoima East Deputy City Division directed UMEME to reconnect the market as the power bill is cleared by the city authorities. He pledged to address all challenges currently facing the market

The Hoima East Division Town Clerk says that the new arrangement of remitting funds from the Centre, is hindering their operations and have asked the vendors to be patient.

The Market was later re-opened and business resumed

Hoima Central Market was constructed by the Ministry of Local Government at 11 billion shillings under the Markets and Agriculture Trade Improvement Programme (MATIP). It was commissioned in 2015.