Buzeki Flags Off Construction of Shs32bn Ggaba Market

KAMPALA — Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has officially commenced the construction of a new modern market in Ggaba, Makindye Division, at an estimated cost of Shs32 billion.

The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by KCCA Executive Director Hajat Sharifah Buzeki, who said the project is expected to transform trading activities in the area while providing organised and modern working spaces for vendors and other businesses.

The construction is expected to take two years, followed by an additional one-year period during which KCCA will review whether the contractor has complied with the approved project design and specifications.

The project was awarded to Ambitious Construction Ltd, which emerged successful after competing against 12 other construction companies.

Supervision of the project will be undertaken by SEGAMU Architectural Consultants, which won the supervisory contract after competing against seven other firms.

According to Buzeki, the proposed Ggaba Market will have 743 stalls, 173 lock-ups, 60 shops, 47 pitches and 168 restaurants, among other facilities.

The market will also include a modern day-care centre for breastfeeding mothers, ample parking and designated areas for loading and offloading goods, a water treatment plant and a standby generator.

Buzeki said the construction of the market is part of government efforts to expand modern trading infrastructure across Kampala.

She explained that the project follows a Cabinet directive in which President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni directed KCCA to construct at least two markets in each division of the city.

The KCCA Executive Director further linked the project to the government's agricultural and economic development agenda, saying the construction of government markets is intended to provide reliable outlets for farmers to sell their produce.

She said the initiative is also in line with President Museveni's 2026–2031 manifesto, which emphasises the development of markets to absorb agricultural produce and, consequently, stimulate agricultural production.

Buzeki said the new Ggaba Market will also help address challenges faced by street vendors and hawkers who have been affected by enforcement of the Trade Order.

She said the enforcement has helped restore order in Kampala and that providing designated trading spaces will offer vendors an alternative to conducting business on the streets.

The KCCA boss commended local council authorities for their contribution to the design and planning of the project, urging them to closely monitor the construction to ensure that taxpayers' money is properly utilised.

She also thanked the World Bank for funding the project and pledged that KCCA would closely supervise the works to ensure that the market is completed according to the agreed standards and timelines.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs Kabuye Kyofatogabye said the proposed market would help address the shortage of organised workspaces for market vendors and street traders.

He urged traders to embrace designated trading spaces as KCCA continues implementing the Trade Order and efforts to restore order in the city.

The Kampala Lord Mayor, Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga, challenged Ambitious Construction Ltd to deliver quality work and complete the project within the stipulated two-year period.

Balimwezo also urged market vendors to prioritise cleanliness and maintain good sanitation within the market and its surrounding areas. He particularly cautioned traders and other stakeholders against activities that could pollute Lake Victoria, given the market's proximity to the lake.

According to the Lord Mayor, pollution could negatively affect fish trade and the livelihoods of communities that depend on the lake.

The Ggaba Market project is therefore expected to combine commercial infrastructure with improved sanitation, organised trading spaces and supporting facilities as KCCA continues efforts to modernise Kampala's markets.