Dokolo Market Vendors Accused of Using Public Toilet as Food Store Amid Sanitation Concerns

What the report says

Dokolo Post reports that residents near Dokolo Main Market in Dokolo, Uganda, have complained that the market’s public toilet is allegedly being used by some vendors to store food items, including cassava and sweet potatoes. The residents, who were not named in the report, said the practice could endanger public health and pointed to wider concerns about how sanitation facilities at the busy market are being managed.

According to the publisher, residents also accused Dokolo Town Council authorities of allowing the toilet facility to fall into disrepair. They asked both town council leaders and the facility’s operator to act quickly so the toilet can be returned to its intended public use.

Ambrose Owili, identified as the officer in charge of public operations at Dokolo Town Council, reportedly acknowledged that some items had been placed inside the facility, but said the toilet is not currently working. He attributed the situation to water shortages, blocked drainage, the poor condition of the structure and repeated misuse by some vendors.

Dokolo Town Clerk Bernard Opige expressed concern about the alleged misuse and instructed market leaders to stop vendors from keeping goods in the toilet, according to the report. He said the council is seeking resources to renovate the facility, fix damaged infrastructure and bring it back into operation. The case matters because a non-functional public toilet in a major market can heighten sanitation risks for traders, shoppers and nearby residents.