By Terence Alur
The rainy season has exposed Gulu municipal’s poor garbage collection system, and left more than 200 vendors at Wilobo market and the neighboring residents grappling with a repugnant smell coming from a heap of garbage at the market.
The garbage at Wilobo market across Alex Latim road has become fodder for cows, goats and children, with residents expressing fear that it could lead to outbreak of disease with the return of the rains.
Vendors in the market told Acholi Times that they have been operating in the filthy environment for more than a month, with the repugnant smell from the garbage causing them untold suffering.
“We have to endure the bad smell just to come to earn a living so that we can be able to survive. The garbage is almost descending in the middle of the market where we sell our food stuff yet no one is doing something about it,” said Patrick Kinyera.
Ms Rosemary Anena, a tenant who resides next to the market, says her house is always filled with filth whenever there is a heavy down pour.
“My cooking utensils are filled with dirt and insects from the running water from the garbage site whenever it rains,” complained Anena.
Wilobo market Chairperson, Ms Margaret Ochen castigated Pece division authorities for ignoring their cries yet they pay their monthly market dues adding that several concern have been raised but no intervention has been done.
Pece division Senior Assistant Town Clerk (ATC), Mr Denis Okongo confirmed the garbage crisis and called for patience among the market vendors.
Okongo said the division has not been able to collect the garbage in time due to delays in remittance of the tax revenue to facilitate their operation.
“We promise that we are going to address the problem (garbage). We are facing financial challenges as a division because the revenue that we are supposed to use to facilitate our work is not paid on time which hinders our operations,” Okongo said.
Gulu Municipal mayor, George Labeja appealed to the division to address the problem in time. He advised them to utilize the annual government grants in their treasury instead of waiting for tax revenues to run their activities.
Last year in December, residents of Pece division accused the municipal authorities of failing to collect garbage in time faulting the authorities of placing garbage containers close to their homesteads. END
