Hope for evicted Hoima street vendors as relocation site development begins
Each vendor is expected to pay a monthly fee of UGX 20,000 for the space they will occupy.
Hoima: Evicted street vendors in Hoima City have received renewed hope following the commencement of grading works on a 2.5-acre piece of land designated for their relocation in Kiganda II Cell.
The land, located near the Lagoon and owned by Peter Ndiwalana, will be rented by the vendors for a period of five years. The arrangement is being facilitated by Asinansi Nyakato and Ismail Kasule.
Each vendor is expected to pay a monthly fee of UGX 20,000 for the space they will occupy.
Vendors who gathered at the site expressed optimism, noting that the ongoing grading works signal progress towards securing a stable place of operation. They also appreciated the efforts of the area leaders for supporting them during what they described as a difficult period following their eviction from the streets.
The vendors further appealed to Hoima City authorities to ensure that those evicted are provided with a conducive and organized working environment.
According to William Musinguzi, the vendors are relieved by the progress but are still awaiting the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report.
He called upon city authorities and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to expedite the release of the report, noting that it is the final requirement before full relocation can take place.
Hoima City Woman MP Asinansi Nyakato confirmed that the grading works are ongoing and described the development as a positive step towards resettling the vendors.
She explained that the delay in obtaining the ESIA report was due to objections raised by a doctor who petitioned NEMA, citing concerns about the site’s proximity to a lagoon.
Nyakato, however, alleged that the objection was politically motivated, accusing some leaders of frustrating the process instead of supporting the affected vendors. She questioned the inconsistency of the concerns, pointing to existing developments near similar environmental features within the city.
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