A generator that was installed to supply power to more than 1,400 vendors at Gulu Main Market in case of electricity blackout has been lying idle for the last one year.
The 500 KVA 3-phase generator supplied by Car and General Ltd was installed during the construction of the Shs26 billion market constructed with funding from the African Development Bank funded modern market.
Acholi Times understands that ever since the market was commissioned by President Museveni in April last year, the generator has never been used. This, vendors at the market say, has affected their business especially those occupying the basement which becomes dark whenever there is an electricity blackout.
A vendor who only identified himself as Ocaka for fear of reprisals told Acholi Times in an interview Tuesday that vendors have been paying money for rent which Municipal authorities promised to use part of for buying fuel for the generator.
“Each month we [vendors at the basement] pay Shs6, 000, out of which we were told would party help to buy fuel incase electricity goes off. We are however shocked that despite the numerous power outages, the generator has never been run,” said Ocaka.
The vendor added that the municipal authorities had promised to install solar panels to address their woes but one year down the road, they are yet install the panels.
“We are currently counting loses at the market due to the constant power outages. Whenever power goes off, we are left in darkness and this sends away our customers,” Mr Ocaka said.
Mr Patrick Omaya, Chairperson Market Vendor’s association observed that the generator has been idle for the last one year due to the high cost of running it.
Mr Omaya said the municipal authorities must come out with new guidelines on how vendors can raise money with support from the municipal council to address the challenges being experienced whenever power goes off.
Gulu Municipality Mayor George Labeja while speaking on a local Radio station during a talk show on Tuesday acknowledged the challenges the vendors at the market are experiencing but noted that running the generator is too expensive for the municipal.
The Mayor said the generator consumes 23 liters of diesel fuel in an hour and to run it for about 12 hours, it requires over 200 liters costing over Shs 700,000 which is too expensive.
The Mayor said it was more cost friendly to use solar as an alternative source of lighting for the market than the generator.
“We have at the moment contracted a company that will supply us with solar panels worth Shs 20 million. We feel that will be cheaper compared to spending too much money on fueling generator,” Mr Labeja said. He did not say when the installation of the solar panels will be completed.
