Meat vendors at City Abattoir have expressed frustration over the rising cost of water bills, citing them as a significant burden on their business.
During a stakeholder meeting with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials, vendors voiced concerns over the estimated Shs80 million monthly water bill, which they described as excessive.
Bonny Katumba, a vendor representative, urged KCCA to implement government directives aimed at reducing operational costs in public markets.
“We are ready to work with KCCA, but these concerns need urgent attention,” Katumba stated.
The meeting, attended by Kampala Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago, KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki, and other officials, aimed at strengthening market leadership structures and improving management.
Lukwago emphasized the importance of collaborating with KCCA-appointed leaders to maintain order. He also highlighted the need to redevelop the City Abattoir, which has been operational since 1935.
KCCA pledged to work with the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) to address concerns over water costs and streamline leadership and management at the abattoir.
Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving market operations.
“We will ensure proper leadership structures are followed and engage National Water to resolve the high water bill issue,” Minister Kabanda stated.
KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki urged vendors to cooperate with authorities to maintain a safe and orderly business environment.
“When we fight, we scare away customers and traders, creating a bad image for the abattoir,” she said.
She further explained that KCCA is managing the markets and abattoirs under the Presidential Directives and the Markets Act, 2023.
Buzeki assured vendors that KCCA will soon finalize the registration process and work directly with elected vendor representatives to ensure efficient service delivery.
“We registered all vendors in October, and we will clean the list soon to elect representatives who will work with KCCA,” she added.
The engagement marked a crucial step in improving market governance, addressing vendor grievances, and ensuring sustainable business operations at the City Abattoir.
