High fees force Mbarara fish vendors out of business

Quraish Lugemwa, general publicity officer for the market and a fish seller himself, described the financial strain on vendors who are now facing overwhelming expenses.

"We pay for our own electricity and water, yet the council charges us excessively, adding to the burden on our limited incomes," Lugemwa lamented.

Fresh fish sellers are required to pay a total of shs420,000 monthly, covering shs100,000 for rent, shs300,000 for electricity, and shs12,000 per unit of water.

Initially, the city council demanded shs100,000  for registration, a fee many vendors could not afford, leaving them unregistered and struggling for the past two years.

Despite numerous appeals and written requests for a reduction to shs 50,000, the council has yet to address their concerns.

"We’ve been continuously asking for a reduction, but no response has been forthcoming," Lugemwa said.

The high charges have already forced some vendors out of business, and those remaining are barely getting by.

"If nothing changes, more of us will have to leave," a vendor shared anonymously.

As the vendors await a response from the city council, their future remains uncertain, and the community fears a potential collapse of the local fish market.