By Tracy Aciro
Business at Gulu Main Market in Gulu city on Wednesday morning came to a standstill following a protest by a section of the vendors accusing the city authorities of failing to enforce of the new trade order requiring all businesses to be conducted in gazetted spaces.
Unspecified number of vendors have been doing businesses at the parking lot of the market to the annoyance of their colleagues operating inside the designated market.
They accused the city council leaders of turning a blind eye to the numerous unlicensed traders who occupy sidewalks, road reserves, and the parking lot of the market, which is cutting into their daily sales and profits.
The protest follows two years of complaints from market vendors, who say the situation has worsened since 2024, with outside vendors starting as early as 8 am daily.
On Wednesday morning, the aggrieved vendors closed the main market and blocked Awere road that passes in front of the main market, demanding the immediate enforcement of the new trade order that requires all businesses to be conducted in gazetted spaces.
Several attempts by the police including the use of rubber bullets to clear the road were futile not until Chris Banya, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) arrived and urged for calm, promising to address the matter with the authorities.
Gulu Main Market hosts more than 4,000 registered vendors dealing in various businesses.
