Vendors in Soroti Central Market lost their cool on Wednesday May 24, 2023 and staged a demonstration.
The vendors were compeled to demonstrate due to poor administration and management of the market that caused the disconnection of both water and electricity.
For the last two weeks the market has been in total darkness coupled with water disconnection. The two are essentials in everyday life.
Armed with placards, the vendors are now demanding for fresh election of market leaders. They accuse the current leadership of failure to deliver.
Some of the most affected by the power outage are those who sale perishable goods.
Abraham Orion, the chairperson of the butchers in the central market said meat sellers are counting losses as meat was just rotting.
He added that the vendors pay an exorbitant fee for electricity to a company called Condo but wonder why power would be disconnected.
“There is evidence that meat is rotten here, where shall we get the money from?, I am now planning to just quit the meat business then go back to the village to plant rice” he reacted.
He said the place needs water and electricity at all times. The power and water according to vendors has been so inconsistent.
“We want UMEME and NWSC to take charge of both power and water direct” angry vendors demanded.
Condo a South African Company is a third party in between vendors, council and Umeme.
The company was contracted by the central government to collect power bills and is responsible for remitting to the city council to pay to UMEME for electricity.
According to the City Resident Commissioner, Peter Pex Paak, the company only remits 1.2million yet the bills is about 4 million.
“Condo came through a contract, instead of having UMEME company meters, they contracted condo but now we are going to agree and give all the vendors separate meters and pay directly to UMEME” said Pex while talking to the angry vendors.
By the time of filing this story, power was immediately restored and Soroti city RCC Peter Pex Paak had vowed not to leave the place until water was also restored.
