By Aaron Okotel
MBALE CITY
Mbale City Central Market Vendors spent a greater part of Wednesday, 25th September, 2024 at Mbale Municipal Stadium conducting elections of market sector heads
.
This was in exercise of the Presidential directive of electing sector heads in every market across the country which is stipulated in the Market Act where the vendors in each designated department shall elect a head of department from amongst themselves.
This is intended to solve many market challenges at section levels, ease mobilization of revenue and vetting of vendors.
A total of 15 departments of the Mbale central market now have newly elected members except for electronics and accessories due to lack of verified candidates.
The 15 departments are: Fresh Fruits Vendors, Produce department, General Merchandise, Textile department, Tailoring department, Agro Processing department, Agro Input Dealers, Mobile Money and Finance Department, Bags and Shoes Department, Laundry and Dobby, Poultry department, Meat department, Fish department, Saloon department, and Hotels department.
Nsubuga Yusuf, the General Secretary of the Mbale central market has called upon the newly elected members to desist from self-interest but serve towards a common goal of developing the market.
On the intentions of the elections, Nsubuga says the new leaders will play a vital role in the smooth running of the market. He added that the newly elected department leaders will thus form an executive of delegates that will be mandated the run the market activates and also elect the overall market chairperson.
Some of declaration forms seen by our reporter indicate:
Isma Twale is the declared Head of Shoes and Bags sector after garnering 88 votes beating two other candidents, Namayisi Fred and Namutaba Joseph who both got no vote.
In the fresh food sector, eight candidates were in contention. The winner Wanyama Yusufu got 332 votes ahead of Mafabi Kasimu(41), Mudebo Ayub (06), Madoi Swibu (06) and the trio of Khisa Lukuman, Nazeba Muhammad and Magombe Juma got no votes.
Nsubuga Yusuf was voted the sector head of mobile money department unopposed.
