President Yoweri Museveni has this afternoon opened a multibillion market complex at Market Street in Mbale town.
The 580 lock-up market partly funded by a loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Market and Trade Infrastructure programme cost Government Shs 26bn.
The President on arrival commissioned a water extension project at St. Paul Mbale Senior Secondary School.
He later commissioned Wapa Courts to mark 10 years of the death of former Speaker James Wapakhabulo.
Addressing a mammoth gathering at the Police Barracks Primary School grounds, President Museveni expressed fond memories of the late Wapakhabulo and spoke glowingly of his choice of wife, Ambassador Angellina Wapakhabulo.
"When you need a stick to support you, you pick it from a good bush. I thank Angellina Wapakhabulo for turning their home into commercial rentals," he said.
The late James Wapakhabulo attended Dar-es-salaam University with President Museveni.
They were both members of a study group founded to diagnose Africa's problems and prescribe solutions with a view to liberating Africa and Uganda in particular through struggle for freedom.
The two were indeed bosom comrades.
President Museveni also used the occasion to warn officials against swindling government funds.
"When one eats beef from a cow with anthrax, they die. Government funds are well documented and recorded. The corrupt should beware; they are eating beef from a cow with anthrax. We shall find you,” he warned.
He directed that the 580 lock-ups be allocated first to the vendors who operated from the market before its refurbishment.
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