State House Anti-Corruption Unit Launches Probe Into SACCO, Electricity Issues At Mbarara Market

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) on Wednesday convened a baraza with Mbarara City leaders, market vendors and their representatives in a bid to resolve longstanding concerns affecting operations at Mbarara Central Market.

The engagement brought together the Mbarara City South Division Town Clerk, Nandawula Sarah, market leaders, and vendors, led by their chairperson Emmanuel Muhumuza.

Muhumuza opened the meeting by commending President Yoweri Museveni for the construction of the modern, state-of-the-art market facility, which he said has greatly transformed the working environment for traders. However, he noted that vendors continue to face challenges that threaten their livelihoods.

Among the key issues raised were:

Overcharging of electricity bills due to the absence of individual meters.

Frequent power blackouts, which disrupt business.

Allegations of corruption within the Market Vendors’ SACCO.

Extortion of traders by unidentified individuals.

Limited office space for administrative functions.

Vendors expressed frustration over high and inconsistent electricity charges, arguing that shared billing has resulted in unfair costs. They also asked the city leadership to consider alternative energy sources—such as solar power or generators—to cushion traders during power outages.

Town Clerk Nandawula Sarah assured the vendors that the city administration is actively addressing their concerns. She revealed that procurement for a service provider to install personal electricity meters has already been advertised, a move expected to eliminate billing discrepancies and reduce conflict.

She added that the city is exploring options for alternative power sources to ensure business continuity and lower electricity expenses for traders.

The SH-ACU delegation, led by Principal Legal Officer Sebikari Samuel, reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to investigating corruption-related complaints. Sebikari emphasized that the alleged financial mismanagement within the vendors’ SACCO and any irregularities related to electricity supply would be thoroughly investigated in coordination with the Ministry of Local Government, the Resident City Commissioner and the City Clerk.

Constructed between 2015 and 2020 under the Market and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme (MATIP), Mbarara Central Market is one of 12 modern markets built by the Government of Uganda to boost agricultural trade and support small-scale business operators. The facility now hosts more than 1,700 vendors, all benefiting from improved infrastructure intended to spur economic growth and reduce poverty.

The baraza ended with renewed commitment from both city authorities and SH-ACU to work collaboratively with vendors to ensure transparency, fairness, and smooth operations within the market.