Roadside vendors in Mpigi District, particularly those dealing in perishable fresh produce, have asked Mr Mubarak Munyagwa, the Common Man’s Party (CMP) presidential candidate, to build a modern market with proper storage facility for them if elected.
The vendors, who operate mainly at Nabbuzi Village in Kammengo Sub-county on the Kampala-Masaka highway, raised their concerns on Tuesday as Mr Munyagwa traversed the district seeking votes.
A major issue raised was the severe post-harvest losses caused by the absence of proper storage facilities.
‘We put in a lot of money to buy these goods, but customers are not buying at the same rate because of the abject poverty in the community. We end up losing everything because the produce perishes,’ said Ms Teddy Naggayi, a resident of Nabbuzi, Kammengo Sub-county.
Complaint
Mr Ivan Lukwata, also a resident of Nabbuzi, added that much of the produce ends up spoiling, yet district authorities continue to charge them local market dues.
‘We should not be paying such taxes because we already pay them indirectly on items like sugar and salt,’ he argued.
The traders further appealed to Mr Munyagwa to exempt farmers from taxes on essential agricultural inputs, including seeds, pesticides, and fertilisers.
Mr Munyagwa, who also made stopovers in Nabyewanga, Kakoni, Kayabwe, Nabusanke, Buwama, and Mitalamaria, accused the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, which has been in power for four decades, of neglecting farmers despite their immense contribution to the economy.
He pledged that his government would prioritise exportation, stating: ‘Nothing stops them from exporting to Saudi Arabia or Dubai. We’ll ensure we invest heavily in production, export more, and widen the international market for their goods.’
He urged voters to support all candidates of ‘change’ and advised them not to vote for the NRM at any level.