Mbale Market: Vendors decry high power tariffs

GERALD MATEMBU

Mbale market vendors have decried huge power bills which often see them going for weeks without power due to rampant power disconnection by Umeme.

They further noted that the huge power bill eroded their earnings.

Vendors have appealed to ministry of local government to install solar panels to lessen the burden.

Last week, NBS TV aired a story highlighting how vendors have struggled to conduct business in darkness following power disconnection.

Nsubuga Yusuf, the general secretary and member of the market executive committee attributed the problem to exorbitant power tariffs.

By design, visibility is difficult in some sections of the market without power, which makes business difficult as customers can hardly see the commodities.

The biggest percentage of the power goes towards lighting up the market to enable vendors conduct business.

Mbale municipal council spends over 50% of the market revenue on power bills alone in addition to water and other services rendered to the market.

The market has two heavy duty generators provided by government but their consumption capacity is worrying.

The multimillion generators sit redundant as the depreciation cost counts.

Vendors are worried that the problem could get worse if alternatives are not sought.

The move is expected to lessen the burden of power tariffs on vendors and Mbale municipality in addition to freeing up revenue which can be spent on service delivery.

Mbale central market accommodates over 30,000 vendors dealing in different categories of products that include fresh foods, garments, electronics, grains, among others.