President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially commissioned the newly constructed Busega Central Market in Rubaga Division, Kampala, launching his week-long presidential assessment tour focused on the Parish Development Model (PDM) and urban wealth creation.
The President, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, toured the modern market complex and held direct engagements with vendors, who shared both success stories and challenges.
Addressing a gathering of local leaders, traders, and residents, Museveni described the new market as a crucial step in improving urban livelihoods through the services sector.
“I’m very happy to see that here you’re engaged in wealth creation through the services sector by selling what is produced by other people. What you needed was a clean, safe, and secure place to work from,” he said.
Constructed under the government’s Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme (MATIP), with financing from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the Busega Central Market became operational in November 2024.
It now accommodates more than 2,800 vendors and is positioned to transform trade in Rubaga and greater Kampala.
The President noted that the services sector, alongside agriculture, ICT, manufacturing, and artisanship, is a pillar of Uganda’s economic transformation.
“Now, in this building, the advantage is that you don’t have to remove your merchandise from the rain. They’re now secure,” Museveni said.
“Previously, I used to see you on the streets struggling during the rain. I don’t know how you managed that time.”
He welcomed a proposal from market leaders to construct a direct access road from the Northern Bypass to the market, noting it would ease customer flow and boost business.
“The road will bring more customers here,” he said.
However, the President expressed disappointment in opposition Members of Parliament representing Rubaga, accusing them of failing to lobby for critical local infrastructure like feeder roads.
“This market is a central government project, like others in the city. But the small roads—like the one connecting the Northern Bypass to this market—I didn’t know about, because the Member of Parliament who should have informed me is not there,” he said.
The President’s comments came in response to concerns raised by Mr. Jimmy Kawuma, Chairperson of the Busega Market Vendors Association, who noted that poor road access was leading to customer loss and rotting perishable goods such as fish.
“Customers find it hard to access the market, and our fish is rotting. We shall be very grateful for that road,” Kawuma said, while also commending the President for relocating vendors from the streets to a cleaner, more organized facility.
In response, President Museveni pledged to liaise with KCCA Executive Director, Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, to acquire additional land adjacent to the market for the expansion of trading space, particularly for over 700 fish dealers.
To bolster grassroots economic empowerment, the President capitalized three SACCOs with Shs 100 million each
Additionally, Shs 50 million was pledged to support a SACCO for sheikhs operating in Rubaga Division.
Turning to politics, the President urged Rubaga residents to reconsider their leadership choices in the upcoming elections, citing mismanagement of PDM funds and weak follow-up by opposition MPs.
“Please vote well. I’ve been told in several places that PDM money isn’t reaching beneficiaries and in some cases, it’s being stolen. I blame you for electing leaders who don’t follow up on what belongs to you,” he said.
“I can come and try to solve your problems, but you also need a local MP who can do the follow-up. I want you to liberate your area.”
Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, Minister for Kampala Capital City Authority and Metropolitan Affairs, praised the President for ensuring urban markets are dignified workspaces and highlighted his support for coordinated city planning through KCCA.
KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki briefed the President on progress in organizing markets and vendor registration efforts, undertaken in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government, Police, and the Internal Security Organisation (ISO).
“In Busega Market alone, there are 2,836 registered vendors. We still have about 300 unoccupied stalls. If delays persist, we may have to reassign them,” she said.
The commissioning was attended by top government officials, including Government Chief Whip Hamson Denis Obua, several ministers, KCCA leadership, and senior National Resistance Movement (NRM) party leaders.
