Mbarara City Central Market vendors have protested a directive by the Local Government Minister, Balaam Barugahara, nullifying the election of the market’s overall vendors’ chairperson, arguing that the decision has left the market without leadership.
The vendors on Thursday morning stormed the office of the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (South), demanding an explanation as to why the election they conducted under the minister’s guidance had been cancelled. In an August 5th, 2026 letter addressed to Mbarara City Mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, Barugahara directed that the recently concluded election of the overall Market Vendors’ Chairperson be declared null and void.
He further instructed the city authorities to ensure that future elections are conducted only for offices provided for under the Markets Act, 2023. The directive follows the minister’s recent visit to Mbarara City, during which he instructed vendors to elect their leaders. The exercise resulted in the election of Emmanuel Muhumuza as chairperson, Penelope Kamusiime as vice chairperson, Kagame as treasurer and other section leaders.
However, Barugahara said a review of the Markets Act, 2023 established that the election of an overall Market Vendors’ Chairperson had been conducted in error. According to the minister, the law introduced a new governance framework for public markets and does not provide for the office of an overall market vendors’ chairperson. Instead, market governance is supposed to be undertaken through the structures established under the Act.
He directed the city council and the mayor to immediately regularise the governance structure of Mbarara Central Market in line with the law. The decision sparked protests from vendors, who argued that cancelling the elections had created uncertainty over the market’s leadership. Dezi Matovu, one of the vendors, said removing their elected chairperson had left the market vulnerable and undermined efforts to address vendors’ concerns.
Another vendor, Enock Mande, said it would be difficult for traders to operate effectively without recognised leadership. He accused the minister of ordering elections only to later cancel the outcome.
Deputy Resident City Commissioner (South) Gerrard Tukumuhebwa acknowledged the vendors’ concerns, saying they were frustrated after electing leaders only to be informed that the process had not complied with the law. He said the security committee was implementing the minister’s directive while ensuring peace and order at the market.
However, another group of vendors led by Hajjat Amiina Zaituni backed the minister’s directive, accusing their colleagues of attempting to frustrate its implementation and mobilising traders to close the market in protest-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
