Traders in Kumi Municipality are raising concerns over an acute shortage of public latrines, a situation they say has disrupted business operations and exposed residents to serious health risks.
With no adequate sanitation facilities in high-traffic areas, many residents have resorted to open defecation in corridors, unfinished buildings, and even in kaveras (plastic bags).
Vendors warn that this growing trend threatens to trigger disease outbreaks. More than 700 vendors operate in Kumi Main Market, including restaurant owners, boutique operators and shopkeepers. Yet the municipality lacks sufficient public toilets to serve them.
A public toilet that has been under construction for over five years remains incomplete, leaving traders and customers without any viable sanitation option. Kumi has rapidly expanded into a bustling commercial town, but the absence of essential public facilities has forced residents into makeshift alternatives.
Local businessman Sam Opolot said the lack of sanitation is affecting both health and trade.
“Whenever I feel the need to relieve myself, I have to lock my shop and go to a neighbouring rental property. This is not only inconvenient but also detrimental to my business,” he said.
Opolot added that many people have resorted to using corridors, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. He noted that constructing public toilets in busy areas would not only promote hygiene but also boost municipal revenue.
Vendor Christine Aguti said the sanitation crisis affects women more severely. “Finding a clean place to relieve oneself has become a serious challenge.
Women need sanitary conditions, yet we feel ignored despite our tax contributions,” she said. Aguti accused local leaders of failing to improve market conditions while continuing to enforce licenses and taxes. “If someone falls ill because of these conditions, it becomes a burden to their entire family,” she added.
Barber Emmanuel Omutoj expressed disappointment over the lack of a functioning toilet in the old market, where several restaurants operate. “The municipal authorities constructed a public toilet more than five years ago, but it has never been operational,” he said. He added that vendors often have to walk long distances to relieve themselves.
Omutoj also noted that the existing public toilet in the main market is in poor condition, with only two functional stances serving both men and women.
The municipal health officer, Samuel Musoke, said the local government is taking steps to address the crisis. “Currently, we have one functioning public toilet at the park, and we are working to complete the one at the old market within the next three to four months,” Musoke said.
He acknowledged blockages in the main market toilets and said efforts were underway to fix them. Musoke stressed the need for every household in the municipality to have its own pit latrine, adding that health teams are conducting inspections to enforce this requirement.
Despite these assurances, many business owners remain skeptical, saying they see little improvement despite consistent revenue collection by the municipality.
With unsanitary conditions worsening, traders fear that without swift action, the health and economic stability of Kumi Municipality could be at risk. Vendors are calling for immediate intervention to ensure safe, functional, and accessible public latrines before the situation deteriorates further.
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