By Aggrey Baba
Uganda Government has waged war on the growing misuse of market space in Kampala and surrounding areas, revealing a plan to construct 10 new modern markets under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Program (GKMA-UDP).
Backed by funding from the World Bank, the program comes after years of disorganization, encroachment, and irregular use of public market land, issues officials say have dragged urban development and choked economic potential.
Hon. Kyofatogabye Kabuye, State Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, said on Wednesday at Kamwokya Market, that the planned markets are expected to accommodate at least 10,000 people each, as part of a new wave of urban order aimed at restoring public control over commercial spaces and preventing further land grabbing.
“It is no longer a matter of speculation, because space in many markets has been misused, encroached upon, and in some cases, completely taken over by private interests,” Kyofa revealed. “This must stop. We are putting in place structures that will end this confusion once and for all.”
He confirmed that construction of the markets will kick off in June 2026, with each facility costing between UGX 30 billion and UGX 50 billion.
Markets lined up for immediate development include Kawuku, Kamwokya, and Kibuye, all already undergoing the advertisement and procurement process.
Kyofa also disclosed that KCCA owns the land targeted for construction, which eliminates the risk of disputes that often arise in public development projects.
The announcement comes at a time when several government reports and audits have pointed to disturbing trends of illegal subletting, unauthorized structures, and unregulated business allocations in city markets, practices that have over time robbed the public of access, safety, and fairness.
With the GKMA program gaining momentum, there’s hope that these new markets will serve as a model of how urban public space should be planned, protected, and utilized, not just in Kampala, but across the country. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
