By Kitts D. Mabonga
Kampala
Many traders dealing in several items have collectively decried the low sales of their products during the Eid Adha festive season saying the poor economy was to blame.
Eid Al-Adha is celebrated at the end of the Hajj or the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia
Muslims all over honor the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command. But, before Abraham could sacrifice his son, God provided a lamb to sacrifice instead.
In commemoration of this intervention, an animal is sacrificed and divided into three parts. One share is given to the poor and needy, another is kept for home, and the third is given to relatives.
The chairman Nsooba slaughter house traders Association hajji Salongo Suleiman Ssekanyo told the East African Gazette yesterday that they managed to secure only 180 cows for slaughter blaming the low numbers on a variety of reasons.
Ssekanyo pointed out that the persistent quarantine imposed on several cattle producing districts by the government was part of the problem as many traders and dealers could not risk buying later alone transport live animals to Kampala for fear of being apprehended by the government security surveillance teams.
He also cited the large numbers of private individuals and Islamic learning organizations buying out many animals at farm gates for donation to respective groups of their choice saying a kilo of beef went for between 11,000 -13,000/= while mutton went for 20K as opposed to the previous celebrations like Christmas and Easter among others.
He commended the good working relationship between their Association and the government saying it had enabled the fostering of cooperation and general promotion of unity in the complex facility which brings together hundreds of different traders.
The vice chairman of the Bivamuntuyo market at Kalerwe Hajji Suleiman Gidongo said the festive season was promising as their members managed to sell out their merchandise including all categories of foods, beverages and general services given their clean working environment.
Gidongo reminded the government that Bivamuntuyo was promised by the president major repairs which they still anticipate would soon be fulfilled adding further that they remain loyal to the administration of KCCA executive director Dorothy Kissaka with her technical team alongside the political leadership of their Mayor Dr. Emmanuel Sserunjogi.
‘we salute both the leadership of KCCA technical wing led by the ED Dorothy Kissaka and the political branch led by our Mayor Dr. Emmanuel Sserunjogi for inculcating a positive working environment which has effectively fostered peace and economic development among our members ‘observed Gidongo
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