BY OUR REPORTER
IGANGA, Uganda – The Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs and Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has directed the immediate dissolution of the interim leadership of Iganga Central Market, marking a significant step toward restoring accountability, transparency, and effective management at one of Busoga’s busiest commercial centres.
The directive was issued during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at the Iganga Municipal Council Headquarters. The meeting brought together market vendors, district and municipal leaders, security officials, and government representatives to address longstanding leadership challenges, concerns over financial accountability, and the effective implementation of government empowerment programmes.
Upon her arrival, Hajjat Namyalo was received by the Resident District Commissioner, Eric Ssewandigi, Iganga Municipality Mayor Nasser Kongola, NRM Chairperson for Iganga Municipality Abbas Ssajabi, District Police Commander SSP Elepot Eria, a representative of the District Woman Member of Parliament Hon. Mariam Seif, ONC coordinators, and other local leaders.
The engagement attracted hundreds of traders who expressed concerns over years of leadership disputes, allegations of financial mismanagement, extortion, poor accountability, and limited access to government wealth-creation initiatives intended to improve their businesses.
For many vendors, Hajjat Namyalo’s return fulfilled a commitment she made during her impromptu visit to Iganga in October 2025, when traders alleged that some market leaders were collecting money from vendors under the pretext of enrolling them in the Government’s Katale Loan Scheme.
That intervention led to the arrest of several market leaders over allegations of mismanaging vendors’ savings and abusing government empowerment programmes. Although the suspects were later released without prosecution, Hajjat Namyalo pledged that the Office of the National Chairman would continue engaging stakeholders until lasting solutions were found.
Tuesday’s meeting reaffirmed that commitment by providing a platform for traders to openly share their experiences and propose reforms aimed at improving market governance and ensuring government programmes benefit their intended recipients.
Traders Call for Accountability in the Katale Loan Scheme
A major issue raised during the meeting was the implementation of the Katale Loan Scheme through the market SACCO. Traders explained that many had consistently saved their money with the expectation of accessing affordable credit to expand their businesses. However, they expressed concern that the programme had not met their expectations due to alleged weaknesses in its administration.
Several vendors claimed that while they fulfilled the required conditions, only a limited number of beneficiaries reportedly accessed the funds, leaving many small-scale traders without the financial support they had anticipated. They urged government to strengthen oversight and improve transparency in the management of the programme.
Addressing the gathering, Iganga Principal Commercial Officer Herbert Kisaame acknowledged the implementation challenges affecting the Katale Loan Scheme.
He noted that the programme was established to provide affordable financing to market vendors but said administrative bottlenecks and implementation gaps had limited its effectiveness.
Kisaame called for reforms that would simplify access to government financing programmes while strengthening accountability among those responsible for managing public resources.
Mayor Highlights Key Development Priorities
Iganga Municipality Mayor Nasser Kongola used the meeting to draw attention to several broader development priorities affecting the municipality.
Among the issues raised was the delayed construction of the proposed Seed Secondary School. He explained that although the municipality had already secured three acres of land for the project, Government guidelines require a minimum of five acres before construction can begin.
The Mayor appealed to Hajjat Namyalo to present the matter to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, requesting support in acquiring the additional land required to enable implementation of the project.
He emphasized that establishing the school would expand access to quality secondary education for learners in the municipality and surrounding communities.
Mayor Kongola also highlighted the prolonged leadership challenges at Iganga Central Market, noting that more than fifteen years of administrative instability had affected service delivery, weakened accountability, and created opportunities for financial mismanagement.
In addition, he appealed for equitable consideration in national health infrastructure planning, observing that Iganga General Hospital serves a large population across the Busoga sub-region and should be considered for further upgrading to strengthen healthcare service delivery.
Commitment to Strengthening Government Programmes
In her remarks, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo reiterated the Office of the National Chairman’s commitment to ensuring that government empowerment programmes are implemented transparently and that the intended beneficiaries receive the support provided by Government.
She emphasized the importance of accountability, responsible leadership, and effective service delivery, noting that government initiatives are designed to improve livelihoods, promote wealth creation, and enhance household incomes.
The dissolution of the interim market leadership is expected to pave the way for reforms aimed at restoring confidence among traders, strengthening market governance, and ensuring that government empowerment programmes effectively contribute to the socio-economic transformation of the people of Iganga and the wider Busoga sub-region.