MADI OKOLLO. The business community in Pawor sub-county, Madi Okollo district is demanding for the construction of Pawor main market which is one of the oldest markets in West Nile region.
The traders say lack of permanent structures at the market is frustrating their effort in growing businesses due to the inconveniences they operate in.
According to Mr Taupe Muzamil Can-Ogora, the chairperson Pawor business community, the government has for long ignored the demand to develop the market and as a result, it is on the brink of collapse.
“This market is among the oldest markets in West Nile but it is struggling to attract traders and customers these days due to the poor state it is in. Traders have nowhere to put their merchandise and it is worse during the rainy season,” he said.
Can-Ogora said as an association, they raised numerous concerns for the need to develop the market to the then Arua district officials but all in vain. Can-Ogora added that he is even not sure whether the newly created Madi Okollo district will consider their cry this time round.
Ms Anena Akello, a business woman at the market, retaliated that the situation is worse during the rainy season as many traders incur losses of perishable goods due to lack of proper storage facilities.
Anena said the deplorable state of the market is hampering the capacity of traders to respond to increasing demands of goods in the market with others evading revenue collection.
Mr Rajab Agundua, the Pawor market tenderer noted that the market is already being shunned by foreign traders due to emerging markets with modern facilities for their goods.
He urged the government to consider building modern structures to attract such traders and designate a parking yard in order to diversify its revenue source.
However, Mr Taban Olama, the Pawor sub-county chief said they are already dialoguing with the government for special funding for the construction of the market.
He revealed that with the operationalization of Madi-Okollo district, there are a lot of priorities including the revamping of markets to improve on the district’s local revenue base.
Pawor market contributes Shs1.5 million monthly revenue to Pawor sub-county local government. Madi-Okollo
