news 6 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Minister Balaam Orders Interdiction of Wakiso Officials Over Market Stall Scandal
Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara has ordered the interdiction of key Wakiso town officials, including the Town Clerk, due to alleged corruption and irregularities in the allocation of market stalls. The directive follows widespread vendor complaints of bribery and unfair practices during the relocation for market renovations. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/minister-balaam-orders-interdiction-of-wakiso-officials-over-market-stall-allocations-5585210
Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara has taken decisive action against Wakiso town officials implicated in a market stall allocation scandal. The Minister ordered the interdiction of Wakiso Town Clerk Jimmy Mabanja and commercial officer Nathan Mwanika following numerous complaints from vendors.
During an inspection of the Wakiso Central Daily Market, which is undergoing renovations, Minister Barugahara heard harrowing accounts from traders. Vendors alleged that they were compelled to pay bribes to secure stalls, with some claiming their names were inexplicably removed from allocation lists despite long-standing operations in the previous market.
Minister Barugahara instructed the Commissioner for Urban Administration to formally recommend the interdiction of Mabanja and Mwanika to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government. He also handed Mabanja over to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for a thorough investigation and directed the police to apprehend Mwanika, who reportedly went into hiding.
The minister’s intervention was prompted by an emotional confrontation where a vendor revealed she had paid Shs2 million for a stall only to be excluded from the final list. Allegations pointed towards market leaders, including the General Secretary, mobiliser, and Secretary for Women Affairs, who were also implicated in collecting the alleged bribes. Minister Barugahara ordered their arrest and the immediate return of any collected funds.
Furthermore, the existing market leadership was disbanded, and an interim committee was elected under the minister’s supervision to manage the market’s affairs. A fresh registration process for all vendors from the old market is to be conducted, with priority given to them for allocations in both the temporary and new market facilities. The minister declared all previous allocations null and void.
Investigations have also been launched into allegations of irregular land transactions surrounding the market, with reports suggesting a significant reduction in the market’s acreage. Minister Barugahara has directed officials to investigate these claims, identify those involved in the alleged sale of government land, and recover any irregularly obtained titles.