FORT PORTAL CITY: Construction works at Kicureta Market in Fort Portal City have been estimated at 75 percent, according to Fort Portal City Mayor Reverend Kintu Willy Muhanga, who says several activities, including paving, fencing and drainage, remain incomplete.
The remarks were made during a monitoring exercise involving political leaders, Resident City Commissioners and technical staff, who inspected several public projects, including the city council chamber, Kicureta Market, Kamengo Bridge and Kataraka Health Centre IV.
The 2.1-billion-shilling project comprises 30 lock-up shops, 48 stalls and designated facilities for fish and meat vendors.
The monitoring exercise aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the implementation of public projects.
Mayor Muhanga says the outstanding works must be completed before the market becomes fully operational.
However, the contractor maintains that construction is still ongoing, after which the facility will be handed over to the council for further works.
Meanwhile, Central Division Mayor Elizabeth Kengenzi says the division has received more than 700 applications from traders seeking space in the market, despite the limited number of available stalls and lock-up shops.
Kengenzi says traders currently operating at Fulex Market will be given priority during the allocation process to ensure an orderly exercise. She has urged eligible applicants to follow up with the relevant offices for further guidance.
However, Fort Portal City Commercial Officer Michael Karwani estimates that the market project is more than 95 percent complete, a figure that differs from the mayor’s assessment.
Karwani explains that construction began in 2022 under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, in collaboration with the local government.
The differing completion estimates come as hundreds of traders await the allocation of space, raising questions about the outstanding works and when the market will become fully operational.
