Kampala Minister Beti Olive Kamya has been directed by the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga to compile and submit a list of those affected by the demolition of Park Yard market on February 28.
Kamya, who was appearing before Parliament today to shed light on the demolition, is in the spotlight following the reported loss of merchandise worth millions of shillings after goons went on the rampage, looting.
The demolition has attracted condemnation from sections of society, with the Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) councilors warning Kamya against making decisions without consulting the Council.
On February 7, Kamya issued the directive, giving the traders 30 days to vacate. However, the demolition has started ten days before the deadline.
Meanwhile, Lord Mayor Lukwago likened the move to land grabbing.
“This is just a matter of land grabbing, just like the commission of inquiry that has been set up to probe land matters in Uganda, Museveni and his government are all out to grab land,” the Lord Mayor said.
It is difficult to establish when the government and the vendors in Park Yard parted ways, given that when the market caught fire in December 2013 and the traders lost billions worth of property, government came to their rescue with a bailout of Shs 1 billion.
However, it is said part of the money was delivered but later swindled by the market officials and to date no accountability has been made.
