Iganga — There was renewed hope and relief among vendors at Iganga Central Market on Friday after the Head of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, made an unannounced visit to the market and ordered the arrest of the area market chairman over allegations of extortion and fraud.
The visit, which drew large crowds of traders, turned emotional as several vendors recounted how their chairman, Mr. Elvis Tinaziraba, and his associates had allegedly defrauded them of millions of shillings under the guise of facilitating access to government loans.
According to the traders, Mr. Tinaziraba reportedly collected money from various groups after claiming that the funds would help process documentation to secure capital from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s empowerment initiatives. Each group was charged Shs30,000 for registration and later Shs100,000 per file, but no support ever materialised.
Mr. Kakaire Isma, chairperson of the bicycle riders and abattoir section, said over 400 groups paid the money with the expectation of receiving funding, only for the process to go silent without accountability.
Hajjat Namyalo, visibly dismayed by the testimonies, condemned the alleged exploitation, describing it as a betrayal of the President’s efforts to empower ordinary Ugandans.
“It is unacceptable that hardworking citizens are being taken advantage of by people who are supposed to serve them,” she said. “The Office of the National Chairman was created to support the poor bazzukulu, not to exploit them.”
The ONC head questioned how such activities could persist without intervention from local authorities and vowed to take firm action against anyone sabotaging government programmes.
In a dramatic turn of events, Hajjat Namyalo ordered the immediate arrest of Mr. Tinaziraba and his accomplices. The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) promptly executed the directive, and the suspects were taken into custody pending further investigations.
She assured the market vendors that she would personally brief President Museveni on their situation and push for their inclusion in key government empowerment programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“These market men and women feed the nation but have been left behind for too long. I will ensure the President is informed and that genuine traders benefit from government support,” she said.
Her visit also took on a political tone as she encouraged the vendors to remain steadfast in their support for President Museveni ahead of the 2026 general elections, saying his leadership had consistently focused on improving the welfare of ordinary Ugandans.
“President Museveni has not forgotten you. He will ensure this market is improved, your groups are supported, and your livelihoods strengthened,” she said to loud cheers from the traders.
Many vendors hailed Hajjat Namyalo for her direct engagement and decisive action, describing her visit as a “rescue mission” that restored their confidence in government interventions.
“This is the first time a senior government official has come here to listen to us and act immediately. We are very grateful,” one of the traders said.
By the time of filing this story, police in Iganga were holding the suspects as investigations continued.
