President Museveni Commissions Shs 24.5Bn Busia Central Market

Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni, the NRM presidential candidate and incumbent President was on Tuesday afternoon campaigning in Busia District in Eastern Uganda where he commissioned the Shs 24.5Bn Busia Market and the Bumbobi – Lwhakhakha road.

Processions of youths dressed in yellow NRM T-shirts chanting names of Museveni were spotted rampaging the streets of Busia town in the morning ahead of the president’s visit.

The processions were organized by Hon. Geoffrey Macho, the Member of Parliament for Busia Municipality who is also the NRM chairperson for the constituency.

Museveni was scheduled to commission the road followed by the market before proceeding to his campaign venue.

The commissioning of the market was part of the wider nationwide Markets and Agriculture Trade Improvement Project (MATIP). The project pertains construction of 21 markets across the country, three of which have now been commissioned by the President: the 23 billion Soroti market, the 28 billion Tororo market and the 24.5 billion Busia market.

Busia market was constructed by Zhanghao – Zhongeng Joint Ventures and was expected to be completed by April 30th, 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic. It was constructed jointly by the African Development Bank (ADB) and Government of Uganda.

The market is expected to host 2,124 traders at full capacity comprising of space for an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) room, bank, kindergarten, pharmacy and a clinic.

It is expected to boost trading in Busia, which is a major producer of cereal in both Uganda and East Africa, with raw cereal being exported through the border to countries like Kenya.