New Leadership Takes Over at Portbell City Batour Market Amid Controversy

Kampala, Uganda – After months of unrest and disputes among vendors at Portbell City Batour Market, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has installed a new leadership committee, sparking mixed reactions from traders.  

 What Happened?  
1. KCCA Intervenes to Resolve Chaos  
   - Leadership conflicts, mismanagement, and vendor protests had plagued the market.  
   - KCCA’s Trade Manager, Julius Kasirye, announced the new committee, stating:  
     "This change will bring order and end the endless fights in this market."  
2. New Leaders Sworn In – Some Reject the Process  
   - Madinah Kyalisima was elected as the new market chairperson but faces immediate opposition from a faction of traders.  
   - Kayima Ndiriisa, another contender, was defeated and accused the election of being unfair, claiming some voters were bribed.  
3. Vendors Divided  
   - Some traders celebrated the change, hoping for better management and reduced fees.  
   - Others rejected the new leaders, vowing to continue protests.  

 Why This Matters  
- Economic Impact: Portbell Market is a key trading hub; instability hurts businesses.  
- Vendor Distrust: Many believe KCCA’s intervention favors certain groups.  
- Precedent for Other Markets: If successful, KCCA may replicate this model in Owino, Nakawa, and others.  
 What’s Next?  
- New committee begins work immediately.  
- Opposing vendors threaten legal action.  
- KCCA monitoring to ensure smooth operations.