Authorities in Ibanda Municipality have prioritized the redevelopment of Ssaza Daily Market as the first project to be implemented under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) Program, shelving earlier plans to simultaneously undertake three major infrastructure projects.
Earlier this year, the municipality had announced plans to redevelop Ssaza Daily Market, Ibanda Taxi and Bus Park, and Kyorora Food Market under the USMID initiative. Traders operating in the affected areas were instructed to vacate and relocate to alternative designated spaces in preparation for the planned works.
However, Ibanda Municipality Deputy Town Clerk, Pius Murekyezi, said the decision followed guidance from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, which advised that the projects be implemented one at a time.
“The Ministry advised us to begin with one priority project before rolling out the others. After consultations, we agreed to start with the upgrade of Ssaza Daily Market,” Murekyezi told The Nile Post on Monday.
He added that municipal authorities have already engaged stakeholders on the proposed market design and are awaiting final approval before proceeding to the procurement stage.
“We have held engagements with different stakeholders and agreed on the project design. Once the design is approved, we shall proceed with procurement of a contractor ahead of the construction phase,” he said.
Murekyezi assured traders and residents that the other planned projects have not been abandoned.
“Prioritizing Ssaza Market does not mean the taxi park and Kyorora Food Market projects have been dropped. We call upon traders who vacated these areas to remain patient and cooperative because implementation of the other projects can commence at any time,” he added.
The USMID Program, launched in 2013 with support from the World Bank, aims to improve urban infrastructure and strengthen institutional capacity across municipalities and cities in Uganda.
The redevelopment of Ssaza Daily Market is expected to improve business operations, upgrade market facilities, and enhance revenue collection for Ibanda Municipality.