By Kaleb Yiiki

Terego

Okpotani Market in Odupi Sub County Terego District that was closed by angry vendors has been finally opened following a joint meeting with the District leaders.

Members of Five Market Associations and Leaders had placed a petition to the District authorities, Citing corruption and Connivance in the Procurement Process of awarding Okpotani market revenue collection tender.

Andebo Mathew the General Secretary, Okpotani Main Market SACCO, a fish monger, details the grievances Contained in the Petition filed by the Market Vendors that, in April 2023,  the commercial officer of Terego District was sent from the district to meet the Vendors and their Leaders  in a meeting convened at Odupi sub county Headquarters.

In the meeting the Commercial Officer said, he is sent from the district to come and talk to the market vendors for the reasons that it has been a directive from the President of Uganda that, all markets in Uganda should be tendered by the market vendor groups in that market. He guided the Market Vendors on the formation of the Different groups in order to help the groups to be eligible as a legal entity to prepare bid documents.

 
Andebo Mathew the General Secretary, Okpotani Main Market SACCO explaining their grievances

Shortly after this, the sub county chief called the former tenderer at the sub county including some selected Markets and he asked them that whoever is ready to take Okpotani Market Management for this one year period should pay the money in cash.

Mr. Yandu Yassin, the former market Tenderer pulled out Ugandan Shillings 2.8 million and his brother pulled out Ugandan Shillings 700,000, the market vendors in pulled 600,000. “We then asked ourselves if the sub county authorities requested money to be paid in Cash, are we not vendors like those other people! We have it ready; we could as well give it. That is when this decision of we should do something to call the interest of the concerned authorities came”. “But it was not an intention to strike, it was to attract the interest of the local authorities to come and tell us what is happening.” he revealed.   

Similarly, Ajuma Sikondo a hardware vendor and the Chairman for Okpotani Market vendors Association added to this Complaints by faulting delays in the procurement procedures by the Sub county and District leaders. “We were waiting for the time of advertising the market until later, the advert was not shown to us yet the financial year was ending.” he added.


Sam Draku, the senior procurement Officer giving guidance on the PPDA act

Sam Draku, the senior procurement Officer gave guidance on the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) act. He says the PPDA act discourages one bid display.

Draku continues to say that he had earlier on advised the District Leaders to give the first opportunity to the vendors groups to allow them to compete among themselves, so that, if the District Procurement Committee fails to get a competent Vendor group, then the committee opens the process for any other parties outside the Market so that the Vendor groups can be allowed to grow to maturity when their systems are completely developed as per the Law. “As a district, we cannot continue losing revenue. We are closing the Bids officially on Thursday 13^th July 2023. A vendor Association that becomes hostile is criminal and hall be blacklisted according to the Law.” He warned.

Otim Humphrey, the Chief Administrative officer Terego District declared the position of the District Leaders saying, “As government of Terego district, we have agreed that all the evening groups in Odupi should apply and they will be evaluated and the best bidder will take the day. When the best evaluated bidder takes the day all the market vendors in Okpotani should support this group for the next 11 or 12 Months until the cycle of procurement ends.” he declared.   


Terego CAO Otim Humprey addressing district leaders

But Hon. Ayikoru Sunday, the District Vice Chairman Terego District urged the Market Vendors Association Leaders to be transparent. “Let us tell the truth. I can register in the names of a vendors association because I have the money and go and convince the other members to register under me using their National Identity Cards but in the end it is me as an individual benefitting not those women who are selling egenzia (small fish) in the market that I purport to be my members. We need to reform.” she urged.


Terego district vice chair Ayikoru Sunday speaking to the vendors

But Festus Ayikobua the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Terego District says his office is aware of the corruption tendencies of some of the district Technical persons. He however called upon the Technical Persons to act justly in the Procurement Process. “CAO you cannot deny and tell me that there is no corruption. Now as we are asking these market vendors to reapply, let us do this with very clear due diligence.” He advises.
 

Terego RDC Festus Ayikobua addressing the vendors

Since Terego’s operationalization as a district for past three years, Okpotani Market has experienced hiccups in the search for a tenderer.

COVER PHOTO: One of the vendors Ajuma Scondo speaks to his colleagues during the meeting By Kaleb Yiiki