Mbale Central Market vendors elect new leaders

MBALE– Vendors operating in Mbale Central Market in Industrial City Division, Mbale City, days ago elected new leaders to manage their affairs after seven years of waiting.

Those elected are: Perez Wambede [Chairperson], deputized by Kulusumu Webisa. Yusuf Nsubuga was elected General secretary while Yusuf Wanyama is in charge of publicity.

The election which was held at Mbale Secondary School playground was conducted by the Mbale City Council leadership and supervised by Mbale Central Market master, Annet Nandudu.

The election of leaders came after Mbale Resident City Commissioner, Ahamada Washaki, tasked the city council authorities to put the executive committee of the market in place for smooth running.

A section of vendors had before the election accused some members of the executive of mismanaging the affairs of the market, financial impropriety, and lack of transparency.

A few months back, the members of the executive forced its then chairperson, Ayubu Madoi to step down to pave way for investigations into the allegations of financial impropriety, lack of transparency, mismanagement of affairs of the market, abuse of office, and overstaying in office. Madoi however dismissed the allegations.

In a hotly contested election, Wambede was declared the winner with 1,294 votes against the incumbent Madoi with 605 votes.

Madoi’s three-year term of office, which started in 2015 expired in 2018. However, no elections had been held since then to either renew his mandate or elect new leaders.

Wambede promised vendors quality services. “I got this victory because of my hard work. No more crying, the issues of electricity, garbage, water, and security will be sorted out,” he said.

However, Madoi didn’t agree with the results claiming the election was not free and fair. “They registered boda boda riders, mechanics, street children as voters,” Madoi said.

The market master of Mbale central market, Annet Nandudu told this Publication that the election was free and fair.

Nandudu advised the new leadership to support the technical team to provide good services to the vendors such as cleaning the market, making sure there is electricity, water, and security for their products.

Mbale Central Market is mainly a collection point for foodstuffs from the districts of Bududa, Mbale, Kapchorwa, Sirinko, Butaleja.

https://thecooperator.news/mp-irritated-over-continued-closure-of-mbarara-central-market/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our  countrywide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news