By Moses Alinda
ARUA: Traders operating along Onzivu Street in Arua city have on Tuesday morning stormed Arua central division offices demanding explanation from the division authorities as to why they had demolished their stalls without their consent.
The traders on Tuesday morning woke up when the division enforcement team had demolished their stalls the previous night.
This angered and prompted them to storm the division headquarters to demand for explanation from the authorities for their action without even giving them the chance to remove their merchandise from the stalls.
Some traders accused the enforcement team of committing crimes while demolishing the stalls including theft since the government working hours run from 8am to 5pm.
However after a long time at the division headquarters without anyone attending to them, Oshino Rashid Ejoyi, the councillor representing Bazaar ward to the division who also doubles as the secretary for security later told them to go back and erect their stalls and resume operation as the council looks into their issue.
He also expressed disappointment at the way the enforcement team carried out the operations which has caused insecurity in the area.
ARUA MARKET VENDORS THREATEN TO DEMONSTRATE
He said the council was supposed to sensitize the traders first and provide an alternative area where they would continue operating from before demolishing their stalls.
Oshino added that he had noticed favouritism during the enforcement claiming that some traders especially Indians were given corridors to act as stores while the indigenous were evicted.
This comes days after traders in Arua city market threatened to abandon the market citing high tenancy fees being asked by the city authorities.
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