When Politicians Fight with Technocrats; Mbale Mayor Warns Town Clerk Against Expelling Roadside Vendors.

 Muhamoud Masaba Mutenyo, the mayor of the Industrial City Division in Mbale City has asked the Town Clerk to desist from forcing vendors off the streets under unclear procedures.

Masaba described the town clerk as a day dreamer who wants to destabilize the city.

This followed a January 1 letter issued by David Kyansaku, the Deputy Town Clerk, warning street vendors to vacate the streets before Monday January 3, 2022.

Upon receiving the letter, the disgruntled vendors rushed to Masaba for intervention, who later met them on Saturday.

“I agree that vendors need to vacate the streets but before chasing them a way, its the responsibility of the City Council to find them space where to operate business,” he said.

Masaba also refuted claims that vendors who came from Kampala to Mbale are to be kicked out of business.

“All Ugandans have a right to search for survival anywhere.  What I need from you is good sanitation by managing well the garbage and following the laws,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Kampala, the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago is currently at loggerheads with Hudu Hussein, the Kampala Resident City Commissioner over the issue of street vendors.

While appearing on a local television last week, Lukwago warned Hudu that his forceful expulsion of street vendors “is digging his own grave which will take him like his predecessors including Jenifer Musisi, Betty Kamya.”

#MLN

#Giles_Achebe

#osutayusuf