Remera market has been moved from its current location near SAR MOTORS, where it had been for the past three years, to just behind COFICO building in the same neighbourhood.

The relocation followed discussions officials in Gasabo District held with traders which concluded that the market be moved by December last year.

Gasabo District’s Vice-mayor in charge of Economic Affairs, Jean Claude Munara, said the relocation was part of the implementation of the city’s master plan and managing security issues that would have been difficult to handle if traders had remained at their former location.

"Being in the fore of the city’s entrance, we decided to relocate the market for the interest of our citizens. The traders were given opportunity to build their own stalls in the new market. Those who are not ready to build shops were advised to join some public markets like Mulindi, Nduba, and Kabeza,” Munara said.

Remera market has more than 217 cooperative members and 183 temporary traders who were former street vendors.

Vendors form Forces Development Cooperative (FEDECO).

Relocation challenges

Meanwhile, some traders from the market have condemned what they called a rushed move by Gasabo District officials, decrying the short time they were given to move their goods to the new market.

"Our members have different capacity issues whereby many have failed to rebuild new stands because it requires money, which they don’t have,” said Victor Niringiyimana, Vice President of FEDECO.

Niringiyimana also complained about poor roads and lack of street lights where they have relocated.

Pascaline Furaha, a trader, said that it will take some time before clients know where they have moved.

"We’ve made serious losses because our customers don’t know where to find us,” she said.

In response to issues of a poor roads and lack of street lights, Munara said the district was going to put up street lights soon and that the road construction to the market was already planned under the district’s action plan for 2012-2015.