Relief For Iganga Vendors As Workaholic Namyalo Intervenes In Market Leadership Crisis

By Frank Kamuntu 

Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs and Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has intervened in the long-running leadership dispute at Iganga Central Market, ordering the dissolution of the current market administration and the formation of a new leadership.

Hajjat Namyalo was received at Iganga Municipal Council by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Eric Ssewandigi, the Mayor of Iganga Municipality, Kongola Nasser, the NRM Chairperson for Iganga Municipality, Ssajabi Abbas, the District Police Commander (DPC), SSP Elepot Eria, a representative of the Woman Member of Parliament, and other district leaders. The meeting drew a large number of market vendors seeking a lasting solution to their grievances.

The dispute stemmed from a loan scheme run through the market SACCO, where vendors contributed money expecting to access development loans. However, many traders alleged that the funds were mismanaged by the market administration, leaving them without the promised support and fueling mistrust within the market.

Addressing the gathering, Hajjat Namyalo recalled her pledge, made during a visit to Iganga in January, to return and resolve the matter. After hearing both the vendors and the market leadership, she emphasized the need for transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership.

She directed that the current market administration be dissolved and instructed vendors to elect a new leadership within two weeks under the supervision of the RDC, the Mayor, and other district authorities. She also ruled that members of the outgoing administration would not be eligible to contest, saying the market needed a fresh start built on integrity and public trust.

In his remarks, Iganga Municipality Mayor Nasser, a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), commended Hajjat Namyalo for her decisive leadership and willingness to listen to ordinary citizens. He thanked her for extending the ONC empowerment programme to the people of Iganga regardless of their political affiliation, saying the initiative had positively transformed lives and should continue reaching more beneficiaries across the district. He also requested her to lobby for the establishment of a government seed secondary school in Iganga Municipality to improve access to quality education.

Hajjat Namyalo reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that government wealth-creation programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, benefit the intended beneficiaries. She said accountable local leadership is critical to the success of government initiatives aimed at improving household incomes and transforming communities.

The vendors welcomed the intervention and thanked Hajjat Namyalo and H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for responding to their concerns. They expressed confidence that the changes would restore transparency, strengthen market leadership, and create a better working environment for traders.