Garbage crisis hits Jinja central market as contractor lays down tool.

A severe garbage crisis has engulfed Jinja Central Market, following a sit-down strike by the waste collection contractor, who claims the Jinja City Council owes him UGX 40 million in unpaid fees.

The strike, which has led to massive heaps of uncollected garbage, has sparked fears of a potential health hazard among market vendors and shoppers.

The situation, which has been brewing for years due to the market's ongoing challenges with waste management, reached a tipping point after the contractor halted operations in protest.

Vianey Ssemaganda the contractor  asserts that the Council has failed to honor payments, accumulating arrears that now total Shs 40 million.

However, the Deputy Mayor of Jinja Southern Division, Maria Kasasa, has contested the contractor's claims. While acknowledging that the Council does indeed owe the contractor, she disputes the figure, stating, "We are aware of the outstanding debt, but the amount claimed by the contractor is not accurate. The actual figure is significantly lower."

The impasse has left Jinja Central Market in a dire state, with heaps of garbage piling up around the market premises. Vendors have expressed deep concern over the deteriorating sanitary conditions, fearing that the unhygienic environment could lead to an outbreak of diseases. "The situation is getting worse by the day.

We are worried about cholera and other deadly diseases," said Henry Mugimba the Chairperson of Jinja Central Market Vendors Association.

Efforts to resolve the issue appear to be at a standstill, as both the contractor and the Council have yet to reach an agreement. Meanwhile, the vendors and the local community continue to bear the brunt of the standoff, with the market's once vibrant atmosphere now overshadowed by the stench and unsightliness of uncollected waste.

This crisis highlights the longstanding challenges of waste management at Jinja Central Market, an issue that has plagued the market for years.

As the situation continues to escalate, there are growing calls for the Council to urgently address the contractor's grievances and restore normalcy to the market before a public health disaster unfolds.

Rajab Kito the Spokesperson of Jinja City Council attributed the impasse to the contractor has under performed in his duties.

"The contractor has only one five so it is hard for him to collect all the garbage collected in that area since it is the Central Business District of Jinja City", he said.

Kito also faulted area residents especially Alidina village who dump the garbage around the market at night contrary to the City Polluter-Pay policy where each person has to pay for his/her garbage generated at his home or premises which makes garbage accumulate morethan what the contractor can collect.

"Some people carry garbage in car boots and dump it at Market in the night or in the wee hours",Kito said.

Jinja Central Market accomodates morethan 6000 vendors who pay monthly market dues,the least pays Shs 10,000 however, the Market leadership faults Jinja City Council leadership of misappropriating the funds collected from the market.