Pallisa, Uganda | Over 2,000 vendors in Pallisa Main Market are facing a severe sanitation crisis, operating without public pit latrines for the past four years. This situation has heightened the risk of hygiene-related disease outbreaks, as vendors are left with no choice but to use nearby unfinished buildings and private pit latrines.
The lack of public facilities stems from a prolonged land ownership dispute between Pallisa Town Council and three family members—Bin Said Muniru, Sale Bin Said, and Safia Sale—who claim ownership of the land on which the market operates.
Jude Martin Aisu, the town clerk, revealed that the town council had planned to construct a three-stance pit latrine during the Financial Year 2022/23, with a budget of 14.4 million shillings. However, construction was halted after the Sale family contested the council's claim to the land.
Aisu confirmed that the council has initiated legal proceedings, with Civil Appeal No. 86/2024 currently before the High Court. He maintains that the land was legally acquired and that the rightful owners were compensated.
In response, Safia Sale has insisted that the land belongs to their family, accusing the town council of attempting to unlawfully seize it. Fredrick Byekweso, the Pallisa Chief Administrative Officer, has requested that the Pallisa Resident District Commissioner, Magidu Dhikusooka, convene a security meeting to address the ongoing dispute.
The Pallisa Town Council Executive Committee, led by LC3 Chairperson Yusuf Zomu, has suggested relocating the pit latrine to Osupa Primary School as a temporary measure. Zomu noted the significant challenges faced by the community in accessing adequate sanitation facilities, forcing many vendors to travel considerable distances for basic needs.
Ali Ogogolo, chairperson of the Pallisa Traders Association, has expressed grave concerns about the unhygienic conditions in the market, which have led some vendors to relocate and set up stalls along the roadside. The situation underscores an urgent need for resolution to the land dispute and for the establishment of proper sanitation facilities to protect public health.
