Museveni Commissions Busega Market, Kicks Off PDM Tour
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday commissioned the newly built Busega Central Market in Rubaga Division, Kampala, as he began his citywide tour assessing the Parish Development Model (PDM) and wealth creation initiatives.
Accompanied by the First Lady and Education Minister, Janet Museveni, the President toured the market and interacted with vendors. He later addressed local leaders and traders, praising the new facility for offering vendors a clean and secure place to work.
“I’m happy to see that you are creating wealth through the services sector,” he said. “Now you don’t have to worry about the rain destroying your merchandise.”
The market was constructed under the government’s Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme (MATIP), with support from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). It opened to vendors in November 2024 and now hosts over 2,800 traders.
Mr Museveni backed a proposal to construct a road linking the Northern Bypass directly to the market to improve customer access. He criticised opposition MPs in Rubaga for not lobbying for such infrastructure.
“The feeder road was never brought to my attention because your MP is absent,” the President said.
Vendors, led by their chairperson Mr Kawuma Jimmy, said poor access is hurting their businesses, especially those dealing in perishable goods.
To support small businesses, Mr Museveni capitalised three SACCOs with Shs100m each and pledged Shs50m to a special SACCO for local sheikhs. He also promised to follow up on acquiring land to accommodate more fish dealers near the market.
The President urged Rubaga residents to vote for leaders who work closely with government to address local challenges, citing concerns over PDM fund mismanagement in opposition-led areas.
Kampala Minister Minsa Kabanda and KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki thanked the President for improving market infrastructure. Buzeki noted that over 2,800 vendors are registered at Busega Market, though 300 stalls remain vacant.
Mr Museveni’s tour continues this week, focusing on economic development and poverty reduction in Kampala. The visit will end with a major public rally at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
