Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has called a crisis meeting after security led by police sealed off Park Yard market in downtown Kampala.
Traders were blocked from accessing their stalls after police deployed heavily at 1am in the night to combat any possible resistance from the outraged traders.
Lukwago described this unfortunate incident as ploy by government to grab the land.
“We are doing our best to challenge the directive and I have called for a council meeting at 10am (on Monday) to review that decision and take drastic measures against the Kampala Minister (Beti Kamya],” Lukwago told journalists.
The Minister of Kampala on February 7 issued a directive to traders to vacate this market in 30 days which will lapse this week.
Kamya said the land in contention belongs to the Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium which need redevelopment.
However, police moved in on Monday morning to seal off the market ten days before the deadline.
Lukwago has also questioned the motive behind the many redevelopments in the city.
“This is just a matter of land grabbing, just like the commission of inquiry that has been set up to probe land matters in Uganda, Museveni and his government are all out to grab land,” the Lord Mayor added.
Stranded Park Yard market traders are dejected following demolition of their stalls that began early on Monday morning.
