The delegation from Rikolto Uganda met different groups of from Mbale central market, the vendors, the Executive committee, and City council leadership to sensitize them on good food safety at Mt. Elgon hotel in Mbale City.
In the training, it was revealed that vendors are selling goods with chemicals like fertilizers which are dangerous to the human body and can cause related diseases.
Rikolto’s main purpose is to sensitize all the stakeholders by Keeping consumers, farmers, processors, transporters, businesses, public health officers/administrators and other actors informed about food safety policies, legal, regulations, and implementation activities to foster and sustain food safety in the communities and the City.
Mbale central market vendors informed Rikolto delegations about the problems they are facing in the facility.
Kassim Mafabi chairman of produce in Mbale central market said the market is disorganized, and we need to relocate some vendors like hotels near the slaughtering place all the flies from there drop on food.
“As vendors, we need more sensitization on good food programs and bad effects of fertilizers so that we can also inform the farmers who supply us,” Mafabi noted.
Wataba Muhammed a vendor in Mbale central market said many people are operating on the streets but leaders are just watching.
He said those operating inside are expensive while those outside the market sell at cheap prices. The market is dirty with garbage everywhere.
“We need a vehicle of garbage collection to always park at the market to remove garbage from there every day.” Wataba said.
There’s no order in the market, everyone should operate inside because there are open spaces there.
Yusuf Nsubuga Mbale central market general secretary said, to remove the street vendors at the market needs general enforcement not only around the market but all City like on the streets of Naboa, Republic, Pallisa, etc.
Ms. Kulusum Vice chairperson of Mbale central market says that the issue of garbage collection around the market is still disturbing them but is handling it.
“There are some vendors who come from the villages with their goods and they were allocated outside the market but we are going to sit with the committee and City council to come up with the solution,” she said.
Mr. Kimera Henry the trainer from Rikolto UgandaMr told market vendors that what we eat is mixed with fertilizers, see the tomatoes, and cabbage. These are causing many diseases in our people.
“There must be a team to regulate what enters in the market,” Kimera noted.
He said All street vendors should leave outside and occupy the open spaces in the market.
Kimera lastly appealed to Mbale City council and market leadership should work together to remove garbage from the market and keep the facility clean to attract investors.
