KAMPALA: Vendors recently relocated to Usafi Market following eviction from Kampala city streets have said they are struggling to make sales because there are few customers in the market compared to the roadside.
Early this month, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) under the Smart City campaign started evicting vendors and hawkers off Kampala streets to create trade order.
Following the eviction process, over 100 street vendors and hawkers have taken up stalls in the Usafi market in Mengo.
However, some of the former street vendors and hawkers are complaining about law sales in the market compared to the sales they used to make on the streets.
Hafsa Nalunga, a tomato vendor in Usafi Market, said there are a few customers compared to the roadside at Entebbe Road where she used to operate from. She noted that the stalls allocated to them are far from the market lane where customers pass and easily buy foods hence favoring only those at the front.
Nalunga also complained about the lack of parking space in the market for customers to park their Boda Bodas, bicycles, or vehicles before accessing the market to do shopping. She said lack of proper parking hinders potential customers from coming to the market.
Similar to Nalunga’s story, Audrey Katushabe a cowpeas vendor also operating in Usafi Market said she can barely make any sales a day. She narrated that before KCCA forced them into Usafi Market, she would sell at least five cups of cowpeas to customers along Entebbe Road.
Katushabe previously owned a stall in Usafi but had abandoned it and only used it while shelling the peas before heading for the streets every evening. But now, she is scared that even when she gets to the streets in the evening, KCCA law enforcement officers might arrest her and confiscate her merchandise.
Joviah Amperiire, another vendor said KCCA should devise means to establish parking for customers coming to the market to shop, otherwise, the sales are likely to remain low for most of the vendors.
Amperiire also had a stall in the Usafi market, having acquired it in 2014, a year after the opening of the market. But, she left the market because there were few customers.
Just like her colleagues, Amperiire said she can’t make as many sales as she used to while on the streets. She revealed that it’s traders who bring agricultural produce in large quantities to sell at a wholesale price that make some money and not the retail seller waiting for small quantity buyers.
Noting further, Amperiire has appealed to KCCA to allow them to hawk their merchandise in the market and the park premises to maximize their sales especially at the time when more passengers are coming into the park.
Twaib Amwoogereza, who operates in Usafi park said KCCA should make sure that all taxis meant to operate from Usafi do so such that the number of passengers coming to the park increases hence the possibility to increase the number of people who could use Usafi Market.
He specifically pointed to Entebbe Stage, which he said should be solely at the Usafi market to boost it and attract more passengers hence buyers in the market. The taxi park was established partly as a supporting establishment to the market.
He has also appealed to KCCA to allow vendors from Usafi Market to hawk their merchandise in the park to maximize their sales.
Speaking to the Usafi Market spokesperson – Muhammad Ssegwanyi said that the market is picking up and that the new entrants should be patient.
He also added that KCCA has permitted vendors to operate in all areas of the Usafi Market, the park inclusive especially in evening hours to hawk their products.
“The vendors can also use the lanes separating the park from the market,” Ssegwanyi said.
Market vendors who have persisted working in the market, say there is a slight improvement in sales. Several, however, depend more on routine customers they have bonded with over the years selling items to them.
Others, especially those dealing in clothes maximize their sales during Sunday markets. Usafi itself runs a Friday market during which, the road between the park and the market is closed to moto vehicles to permit vendors to sell their merchandise.