Traders at Farmers Mall are voicing their frustration over what they describe as unlawful evictions, repeated rent hikes, and intimidation by armed security personnel. These protests come after the owner, John Bosco Muwonge, allegedly locked several shops and imposed a 10% rent increase every month, which the traders say is beyond their financial means to sustain.

The traders, primarily dealing in agricultural chemicals and farm inputs, have accused Muwonge of arbitrarily increasing their rental fees without prior consultation. Many traders have found the sudden rise in rent to be impossible for their businesses to bear.

“We were shocked to see our shops locked without any prior consultation,” said Mayanja Joy Kato, the chairperson of the traders. “Every month, a new 10% is added to our rent, which has made it impossible to continue operating,” she added.

As a result of the escalating tensions, several shops at the mall were closed, with traders laying down their tools in protest. They claimed that the building owner had promised to reopen the shops the following day, but this promise was not fulfilled.

Adding to their frustration, the traders allege they have been harassed by security personnel, whom they claim were sent by Muwonge to enforce the new rent hikes. “We are tired of armed soldiers being sent to address rent issues,” one trader commented. “The owner himself never shows up, but instead uses armed men to intimidate us. This is pure harassment.”

The situation escalated further when traders attempted to march to Muwonge’s office to seek clarification and request a dialogue. They were reportedly blocked by armed soldiers, some of whom allegedly pointed guns at the protesters, preventing them from accessing the premises.

In light of the ongoing issues, the traders have appealed to government authorities for intervention. “We are hardworking Ugandans trying to earn a living, but the conditions being imposed on us are unbearable,” said Kato.

Efforts to reach the building’s management for comment have been unsuccessful, with the phone number of the manager reportedly unreachable. As the situation at Farmers Mall remains tense, the traders continue to await a response from both the management and relevant government authorities.