Paidha Town Council has ignited a fresh wave of development after committing UGX 113 million from its own locally generated revenue to construct eight modern lock-up shops at Paidha Central Market in Zombo District. The investment reflects a determined push to expand trading space, strengthen infrastructure, and unlock greater economic potential within the municipality.
The LCIII Chairperson, Innocent Godfred Onega, presided over the official site handover, signaling the start of construction works awarded to Blue Moon Technical Services Limited on February 17, 2026. The contract, valued at UGX 112.9 million and rounded to UGX 113 million in the approved budget, carries a strict completion timeline of 100 days.
Upon completion, the new units will increase the number of permanent lock-up shops at the market to 58. The development forms part of a gradual transition away from ageing mud-walled stalls that have stood for decades but are increasingly vulnerable to rain damage and structural decay.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Onega praised traders for consistently meeting their tax obligations, noting that strengthened local revenue performance has enabled the council to reinvest directly into transformative projects. He emphasized that the entire initiative is being financed without external borrowing or donor dependence.
The chairperson further assured vendors who previously occupied the demolished structures that they will receive fair consideration during the reallocation process once the shops are complete, provided they adhere to the established application procedures.
Council leaders described the initiative as a cornerstone of a long-term modernization agenda aimed at leaving visible and sustainable development footprints. Technical teams have pledged rigorous supervision throughout the construction period to ensure quality workmanship and full value for public funds.
Blue Moon Technical Services Limited expressed confidence in delivering the project within schedule, citing its successful completion of renovations at Adhingi Primary School and Paidha Demonstration School. The new shops build on earlier market upgrades, including 30 retail lock-up units commissioned in 2023 with support from the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), as well as recently installed shade structures to protect open-air vendors.
Recognized as the “food basket of West Nile,” Paidha Central Market remains a strategic trading hub for matooke, beans, maize, coffee, Irish potatoes, and avocados, attracting merchants from across West Nile, northern Uganda, and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. With revenue climbing from UGX 230 million in FY 2022/23 toward a projected UGX 286 million annually—representing an 18.3 percent increase—the council’s phased modernization plan is positioning the market as a driver of sustained local economic growth.
