By James Alomu
SOROTI CITY — Tensions have boiled over in Soroti City as fish vendors operating in the bustling Owino Market launched a protest against local authorities, highlighting a glaring contradiction: how can a business be labeled illegal yet deemed fit for daily taxation?
The demonstrators, predominantly women who rely on the fish trade to sustain their families, are caught in a bitter turf war. They accuse city authorities of fueling pressure from rival traders in the main market, who claim the Owino vendors are siphoning away customers and hurting their sales.
However, the vendors’ central grievance lies in the hypocrisy of the city’s revenue collection.
“How can authorities continue to collect daily taxes from us if our businesses are considered illegal?” asked Abulo Martha, one of the protesting vendors, pointing to the absurdity of the situation.
Martha challenged the city leadership to provide a viable alternative before attempting any relocation. She argued that any new site must boast proper infrastructure, including reliable electricity, adequate sanitation facilities, and 24-hour security. Until such a market is built, she suggested that disgruntled traders from the main market should simply move to Owino if they cannot handle the competition.
The stakes are high. According to Adeke Jane, the chairperson of the vendors, over 500 women depend directly on the Owino market ecosystem. Many of these women travel long distances from surrounding villages to purchase fish in wholesale quantities for resale, making the market a crucial economic engine for the region.
Jane also questioned why fish vendors are being unfairly singled out when the area hosts a diverse array of businesses, including traders selling chicken, clothing, and various other merchandise.
Echoing these sentiments, vendor Akarot Keetty emphasized that Owino Market was created to serve the broader population of Soroti City and should remain open to all traders without discrimination. The vendors warned that any forceful or ill-prepared relocation would jeopardize the livelihoods of hundreds of families.
In response to the mounting pressure, Soroti City East Division Mayor Latif Abdul stepped in, promising to find an amicable solution within a week. Abdul announced that Kichinjaji Market would be organized and prepared within that timeframe to accommodate the displaced vendors.
Despite the mayor's assurances, skepticism remains high among the vendors regarding whether Kichinjaji Market will be equipped with the necessary facilities to support their round-the-clock trade.
Efforts to reach the Soroti City Town Clerk for a comment on the revenue collection and relocation plans were unsuccessful by press time. As the one-week deadline ticks down, Owino’s fish vendors await a resolution that reconciles the city’s appetite for tax revenue with respect for their livelihoods.
