Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs and Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has dissolved the interim leadership of Iganga Central Market and directed the organisation of fresh elections to establish a new administration chosen by the vendors.
The decision was announced on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, during a high-level engagement with market vendors, local leaders and government officials at the Iganga Municipal Council headquarters, where traders raised concerns over leadership disputes, accountability and the implementation of government empowerment programmes.
Hajjat Namyalo was received by Iganga Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Eric Ssewandigi, Iganga Municipality Mayor Nasser Kongola, NRM leaders, security officials, ONC coordinators and other district stakeholders.
Hundreds of vendors attended the meeting, presenting concerns about the management of the market, including allegations of poor accountability, leadership wrangles and challenges surrounding the Katale Loan Scheme established through the market SACCO.
The traders said they had contributed funds with the expectation of accessing affordable financing to expand their businesses but expressed concern over the management and accessibility of the scheme.
Hajjat Namyalo said the intervention followed a commitment she made during her previous visit to Iganga, where she promised to return and help address the challenges affecting traders.
She emphasised that government programmes must benefit their intended beneficiaries and that accountability, transparency and responsible leadership remain essential in achieving sustainable development.
“Government programmes are meant to transform lives, not benefit a few individuals. Every resource provided must reach the people it was intended to support,” Hajjat Namyalo said.
She criticised the practice of imposing leaders on market vendors, saying leadership should be determined through a free and transparent process.
“Leadership belongs to the people. Market vendors must be allowed to choose leaders they trust to represent their interests,” she said.
Following consultations with vendors and stakeholders, Hajjat Namyalo announced the dissolution of the interim leadership and directed that members of the outgoing administration would not participate in the forthcoming elections.
She tasked the RDC, the Mayor and other responsible authorities with overseeing a transparent election process within two weeks to establish a new leadership structure for the market.
Concerns Over Katale Loan Scheme
During the meeting, traders raised concerns over the Katale Loan Scheme, which was established to provide affordable credit to market vendors.
Iganga Principal Commercial Officer Herbert Kisaame acknowledged challenges affecting the programme, noting that bureaucratic barriers and implementation gaps had affected access to the support.
He called for reforms to ensure genuine beneficiaries can access government initiatives while strengthening accountability among those responsible for managing such programmes.
Leaders Raise Wider Development Concerns
Iganga Municipality Mayor Nasser Kongola highlighted broader development concerns affecting the municipality, including the delayed construction of a Seed Secondary School and the need for additional land to meet government requirements.
He appealed for support in securing the required land so that the project can benefit learners in the area.
The Mayor also raised concerns about the long-standing leadership challenges at Iganga Central Market, saying instability had affected service delivery and created opportunities for poor management.
He further appealed for consideration of Iganga Hospital in government health infrastructure planning, noting its importance in serving communities across the wider Busoga region.
RDC Highlights Programme Accountability Concerns
RDC Eric Ssewandigi said leadership challenges at the market had affected vendors’ businesses and extended concerns to the implementation of government wealth creation programmes.
He revealed that some Parish Development Model (PDM) beneficiaries had reported receiving less support than expected, calling for investigations and stronger monitoring mechanisms.
The RDC said accountability was necessary to ensure that government programmes achieve their intended objectives.
He directed the outgoing market leadership to hand over official documents and property under their custody to facilitate a smooth transition.
Vendors Welcome Intervention
The announcement was welcomed by vendors, who described the decision as an important step towards restoring confidence, accountability and effective representation.
Fish vendor Muyobo Enock said traders had experienced prolonged challenges and welcomed the intervention aimed at creating a fresh leadership structure.
Other vendors expressed optimism that the new leadership would improve market management and strengthen access to government empowerment programmes.
Strengthening Grassroots Accountability
The intervention forms part of the Office of the National Chairman’s wider efforts to monitor government programmes, identify implementation gaps and ensure that citizens benefit from initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga and other wealth creation programmes.
Through community engagements across the country, ONC continues to promote accountability, effective leadership and citizen participation in programmes aimed at improving household incomes.
Hajjat Namyalo reaffirmed that the Office of the National Chairman would continue working with communities to ensure that government initiatives deliver meaningful benefits to Ugandans.