Gulu Main Market vendors split over leadership, delayed elections

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A deepening leadership wrangle has erupted within the Gulu Main Market Vendor Association, with rival factions trading accusations over accountability and the delayed organisation of fresh elections.

The association, which brings together more than 4,000 vendors across 29 sectors, is now sharply divided, with one faction calling for external intervention to oversee elections and restore transparency.

Speaking at a press conference held at Florida Hotel in Gulu city on Monday (April 27), a breakaway group led by general secretary Santo Obura accused chairperson Patrick Omaya of mismanagement and manipulating the association’s constitution to extend his stay in power.

Obura alleged that Omaya has taken personal control of a lorry purchased with vendors’ contributions and failed to account for its proceeds. He also claimed that constitutional amendments were made to alter term limits, despite provisions restricting the chairperson to two terms.

“We no longer trust the current leadership to organise credible elections,” Obura said, calling on the Office of the Town Clerk and the resident city commissioner to take over the electoral process.

The group further argued that the current leadership’s mandate effectively elapsed on March 28, 2026, making it inappropriate for them to oversee the next election.

Charles Odida, who is contesting for the chairperson position, supported the call for an independent electoral body and proposed the formation of an interim leadership to manage the transition.

He raised concerns over the association’s finances, particularly the lorry, which he claimed has been generating about sh2.6m monthly for the past three years without any formal accountability to members.

Vice chairperson Florence Oyella Lagen also criticised the leadership, accusing Omaya of manipulating internal decision-making processes.

She alleged that a recent delegates’ conference was attended only by his supporters, who endorsed a controversial voting method based on lining up instead of secret ballots.

Oyella further demanded accountability for sh20m reportedly given to market vendors by President Yoweri Museveni, saying members have not been informed how the funds were used.

Chairman refutes allegations

However, Omaya dismissed the allegations, defending his leadership and accusing his detractors of failing in their responsibilities.

He said that while he was away pursuing further studies in 2023, he delegated duties to the general secretary and vice chairperson, but returned to find that the association’s SACCO had mismanaged sh60m.

Omaya stated that he recovered the funds, cleared outstanding debts and reinvested the money into the SACCO, while retaining control of the lorry to generate revenue.

On the issue of elections, he insisted that no external body would be allowed to conduct the process, maintaining that the association’s constitution mandates the sitting leadership to organise elections regardless of the term’s expiry.

He announced plans to convene a delegates’ meeting and general assembly, where sector leaders will be elected and tasked with selecting representatives for the final executive vote, which he said will be conducted through lining up early in May this year, and sector elections will be conducted this Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Omaya cautioned some politicians in the division against creating problems in the market and then presenting themselves as problem solvers. This comes after a section of politicians were accused of influencing the election in the main market.

Omaya also acknowledged that the association has not undergone any external audit, stating that it relies on internal accountability mechanisms.

The dispute has intensified uncertainty among vendors in one of northern Uganda’s busiest markets, as members push for transparency and a credible leadership transition.