MASAKA — Traders operating in the Mubuulo section of Nyendo Central Market in Masaka City have suspended their forthcoming leadership elections after rejecting the market's electoral committee over what they described as unfair nomination requirements and a lack of transparency in the electoral process.
The elections, which had been scheduled for this week, were halted following a heated meeting at which traders unanimously resolved to disband the electoral committee chaired by Grace Kisakye, a second-hand clothes trader.
The traders accused the committee of introducing restrictive qualifications aimed at locking out potential candidates and denying members an opportunity to participate in a free and fair election.
Among the most contested requirements was a provision requiring anyone seeking the position of market chairperson to possess the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE), while candidates contesting other leadership positions were required to have completed the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE).
The committee also required each aspiring candidate to pay a non-refundable nomination fee of Shs500,000, a move traders said was excessive given that market leadership positions are voluntary.
"These are volunteer positions that do not come with salaries. Charging Shs500,000 to contest is unfair and intended to discourage ordinary traders from standing for leadership," said Chrisestom Kyoobe, the outgoing chairperson of the Mubuulo Traders.
Traders further complained that many eligible candidates were denied nomination after allegedly being informed that the registration exercise had already closed without prior notice.
Others said they had not been introduced to the candidates expected to contest the elections, raising concerns about the credibility and transparency of the entire process.
The traders also questioned the legitimacy of the electoral committee, arguing that its members were neither elected by traders nor, in some cases, active traders within the market.
Another contentious issue was a guideline barring current market leaders from seeking re-election to any position.
Henry Tyson Kiyimba, one of the aspiring candidates, described the rules as discriminatory.
"Preventing current leaders from contesting again violates their democratic rights. Leadership should be determined by the voters, not by restrictions imposed by an electoral committee," Kiyimba said.
Responding to the accusations, Grace Kisakye defended the nomination guidelines, saying they were intended to ensure competent leadership.
She said the committee had budgeted about Shs3.3 million to organise the elections and questioned how the exercise would be financed if nomination fees were scrapped.
"Organising elections requires resources. The nomination fees were introduced to help facilitate the electoral process, not to deny anyone a chance to contest," Kisakye said.
She also accused some outgoing market leaders of mobilising traders against the committee because they wanted to remain in office beyond their three-year constitutional term.
"Some of the resistance is being driven by leaders who do not want to leave office after serving their mandated term," she said.
However, the explanation failed to convince the traders, who voted to dissolve the committee and postpone the elections for one month to allow fresh election guidelines and a new electoral committee to be constituted.
The postponement has frustrated several candidates who had already completed preparations for the elections.
Nyendo Central Market last elected its leadership in July 2022, and the current leaders' three-year term has since expired.
Traders now hope the postponement will pave the way for a more transparent, inclusive and credible electoral process.
