The Malaba Fish and Livestock border market in Maracha district, which had been abandoned by vendors for more than two years, has reopened. In March 2021, vendors left the market and went to the neighboring open market on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) side after alleged altercations with Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers during the enforcement of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Efforts were made by local authorities over the past two years to revive the market after the government lifted COVID-19 restrictions. However, the market remained closed as traders who had moved to the open market on the DRC side chose not to return.
Godfrey Osutre, the LC III Chairperson for Paranga Sub-county, stated that the absence of the once thriving market adversely affected the sub-county’s operations, as they were unable to generate local revenue. To entice more vendors back to the market, they suspended the collection of market dues for at least four months while continuing to raise awareness. Osutre expressed hope that the reopened market would provide relief to locals who sometimes faced difficulties when selling their goods on the DRC side due to harassment by Congolese authorities.
The Malaba market, situated along the Uganda–Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border in Paranga Sub-county, was constructed during the 2020/2021 financial year under the Discretionary Development Equalisation Grant (DDEG) program, costing 70 million Shillings.
Silver Drani, the councilor representing Oleba sub-county, believed that the revival of business in the market would greatly benefit local businesses not only in Paranga Sub-county but also in neighboring Koboko district.
Maria Candiru, a fishmonger at the market, was optimistic about the market’s reopening, as she believed it would economically empower local women whose businesses had collapsed during the two years of closure.
Richard Drani, a livestock trader, welcomed the development, stating that the reopened market would create job opportunities in the livestock sector, particularly for unemployed youths.
The Malaba fish and livestock border market, operating on Tuesdays and Fridays, attracts vendors from as far as Koboko district, Arua City, and Terego district.
