By Our Reporter
2/11/2026
Traders at Nakasero Market in Kampala have rejected plans by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to organise elections for new market leaders, arguing that the authority has no legal mandate to conduct elections in a market they claim is privately owned by the vendors.
The traders, led by Fredrick Ocheng, have petitioned the Federation of Uganda Traders Associations (FUTA), headed by John Kabanda, seeking its intervention to stop what they describe as an illegal election exercise and protect their ownership rights over the market.
In their petition, the traders argue that Nakasero Market is not among the public markets under KCCA’s direct management and that the proposed elections could be a move to undermine their ownership of the facility, which they say they purchased in 2007.
Och eng said the traders bought the market from KCCA in 2007 at a cost of Shs1.8 billion. However, he alleged that KCCA later attempted to reclaim the property, prompting the matter to be referred to President Yoweri Museveni, who reportedly directed the authority to refund the traders’ money together with interest.
He said the refund has never been completed, leaving ownership of the market in the hands of the traders who purchased it. He questioned KCCA’s authority to organise elections in a facility whose ownership remains disputed.
Ocheng further claimed that some of the individuals being proposed for leadership positions are not recognised by the traders but are allegedly brokers representing wealthy business interests. He expressed fears that such individuals could be used to sign documents that might facilitate the sale or transfer of the land on which the market stands.
The traders also accused KCCA of frustrating their efforts to develop the market, claiming that after purchasing the facility, they prepared a development plan for the proposed redevelopment and submitted it to KCCA for approval. However, the authority allegedly declined to approve the plan, which they suspect was part of an attempt to frustrate their ownership arrangements.
Hassan Sserugo, a trader dealing in oranges, warned that tensions could escalate if KCCA proceeds with the planned elections on Monday, November 3. He said the traders do not recognise the proposed electoral arrangements and questioned the intentions of those organising the exercise.
Another trader, Zaituni Nakiganda, accused some KCCA officials, including the authority’s markets manager, Kasirye, of contributing to disputes in Kampala’s markets. She alleged that the planned leadership changes were intended to install leaders who would support particular individuals’ interests in revenue collection.
Nakiganda appealed to KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki to investigate the matter and avoid being misled by officials whose actions, she claims, could reignite tensions that have previously affected markets in the city.
Meanwhile, Saalongo Kasasa accused Kasirye of allegedly bringing groups of violent individuals to intimidate traders, assault them and have some arrested. He warned that the traders were prepared to resist any attempts to impose leadership on them.
However, KCCA spokesperson Daniel Nuwabine defended the authority’s decision, explaining that after the abolition of market chairpersons and their replacement with Market Masters, KCCA resolved to establish elected leadership structures for different market sections.
He said the elected leaders would work alongside Market Masters to represent traders and help communicate their concerns to KCCA, ensuring that challenges affecting the different sections of the markets are addressed.
The disagreement now sets the stage for a confrontation between Nakasero Market traders and KCCA, with the vendors insisting that their ownership rights must be respected before any leadership changes are introduced.
