Kabale District Council Approves Four New Public Markets

What the report says

Kabale District Council has approved plans for four new public markets, a development intended to support trade, widen the district’s revenue base and provide more orderly trading spaces. According to Nile Post, the decision was reached during a council sitting chaired by Speaker Flavia Nyinakiiza Kanagizi.

The proposal splits the markets by function and location: Maziba and Butanda will host produce markets, while Katuna Town Council and Ryakarimira Town Council will each establish livestock markets. Councillors said the facilities are meant to serve expanding commercial activity in the four areas, especially Katuna and Ryakarimira, where cross-border trade and urban growth have increased demand for regulated market spaces.

The district also linked the plan to concerns about roadside vending, sanitation and weak enforcement of health and trade standards. By creating designated markets, leaders expect to improve revenue collection and reduce unregulated trading in public spaces. The motion was introduced by the Secretary for Finance, Administration and Planning, Miria Akankwasa Tugume, and received support from other councillors.

Nile Post reported that the council wants the projects to comply with relevant laws and regulations, including the Markets Act, 2023, the Local Governments Act, planning rules and public health requirements. In broader terms, public markets are often used by local governments to organize commerce, support producers and traders, and strengthen local economic activity.