RX Radio Presenter Sarah Apollo, while commenting on KCCA’s directives to vendors to leave and relocate from the streets, supported the idea saying that the country needs to have an organised city.
In an effort to get the vendors off the streets of Kampala, the Kampala Resident Commissioner Hussein Hud, sensitized the sellers against the practice, in addition to asking them to vacate and assume available spaces in the markets.
However, after many fruitless attempts, the RCC announced that the hawkers have up to 10th January 2022 to leave the streets or will force KCCA to act upon them.
Sarah said that the concerns of the vendors were settled by KCCA thereby having limited excuses to relocate into the markets. “It's very important that we have an orderly and smart city and I agree that the vendors should be relocated. A lot of vendors feared that they would be charged rent for occupying spaces in the markets but well, it’s free of charge.”
She went on to explain, “Last week KCCA was in town sensitizing and encouraging them to take up spaces in Wandegeya and Usafi markets. Their biggest problem was the rental fees but they were excused from it indefinitely.”
She added that the Government was concerned that the commotion street vendors would start would foster the spread of the Omicron variant, leading to an increase in infection rates.
“The World Health Organization advised countries to have 70% of their population vaccinated before 2022 if they are to contain the infections and rising cases of the virus,” Sarah cited.
However, Olive Najjuma, another Co-host on the show, said that unlike market vendors, street vendors don't belong to any associations that can bring them together, on top of being untraceable due to their ever-changing work locations.
Fatboy then concluded that the vendors might have to find other creative ways of selling their merchandise since getting them off the streets will also make life difficult for them.
The Fatboy show is hosted by James Onen aka Fatboy, Olive, Sarah and Lesham every weekday from 6am to 10am on RX Radio.
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