President Yoweri Museveni has today commissioned the ultra-modern Soroti Central Market in Soroti City, while on his campaign trail in Teso sub-region.
The Market shall accommodate over 2,000 vendors, most of whom are women and small-scale business operators.
According to the Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, the Market has got 1,396 facilities including 532 lockers, 433 stalls, 431 pitches. It also has two giant underground water tanks for rain-harvesting with capacity of 500,000 litres of Water.
The Shs 89bn Market is also fitted with CCTV cameras connected to the Central Security System as well as fire-fighting equipment for fire outbreaks.
There are enhanced lighting including solar and natural lighting, cold rooms for preserving perishables like fish, meat and vegetables.
The market has got a child Care centre for women with children, complete with mattresses and playthings for children.
The Soroti Central Market is part of the ongoing programme called Markets and Agricultural Transformation Infrastructure Programme (MATIP) supervised under Ministry of Local Government and funded by African Development Bank and Government of Uganda. This programme is aimed at value addition, enhancing production and productivity, market and employment creation for locals.