The Minister for Local Government, Hon. Balaam Barugahara, has ordered the arrest of several Fort Portal City officials after discovering appalling sanitation conditions at Kabundaire Farmers’ Market during the National Cleaning Exercise. The minister condemned the state of the market, describing it as a sign of negligence and poor leadership.
Balaam, who launched the monthly nationwide cleaning campaign in Fort Portal on Saturday, began his inspection at Mpanga Market before proceeding to Kabundaire Farmers’ Market. There, he found a huge heap of uncollected garbage dumped in the middle of the trading area, where hundreds of vendors and customers conduct business every day.Expressing his disappointment, the minister questioned how Fort Portal, a city known for promoting tourism, could allow one of its busiest markets to remain in such an unhygienic condition. He warned that the garbage posed a serious health hazard and risked exposing the public to preventable diseases.He further criticised the city authorities for failing to effectively manage waste despite receiving government funding and collecting local revenue. Balaam said there was no justification for the continued sanitation crisis and insisted that those responsible must be held accountable.Traders told the minister that they have endured poor sanitation for years even though they regularly pay market dues and taxes. Sarah Kobusinge, one of the vendors, said they have been forced to work alongside rotting garbage, exposing them to foul smells and unhealthy conditions.Another trader, Marjorie Kansiime, said the market’s sanitation facilities have completely deteriorated.
She cited overflowing toilets, inadequate water supply, blocked drainage channels and the absence of handwashing facilities, saying the market becomes almost impassable whenever it rains.Fort Portal Central Division Mayor Joram Bintamanya blamed the city’s technical staff for failing to supervise waste collection and maintain proper sanitation standards. He urged those responsible to improve service delivery and restore cleanliness in public markets.
Following the inspection, Balaam ordered the arrest of seven technical officials, including the City Finance Officer and the former Central Division Town Clerk, over alleged negligence. He also directed that the contract of the company responsible for cleaning the market be terminated, arguing that traders should instead be entrusted with the work. The National Cleaning Exercise is held on the last Saturday of every month from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. as part of the government’s campaign to improve sanitation and prevent disease outbreaks nationwide.
