Fraud Exposed: Iganga Market Chairman Arrested After Namyalo’s Surprise Visit

By Gad Masereka

When the head of the Office of the National Chairman, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, stepped into Iganga Central Market on Friday, few anticipated the dramatic turn her visit would take. What began as a routine engagement with local traders quickly evolved into a moment of reckoning for a leadership accused of betraying the very people it was meant to serve.

Traders, some on the verge of tears, surrounded Hajjat Namyalo as they recounted how their chairman, Elvis Tinaziraba, had allegedly defrauded them through a series of fake Katale loan schemes. They claimed that Tinaziraba collected money under the guise of linking them to a presidential financial support program that never materialized. Many said they had been forced to pay both registration and file-processing fees, only for the funds to vanish without explanation.

According to Kakaire Isma, a section leader representing bicycle riders and butchers, the chairman demanded 30,000 shillings from each group for account registration and an additional 100,000 shillings per file. “We believed this was an opportunity from the President to boost our businesses. But years passed, and we saw nothing. Instead, our savings disappeared,” he said.

As the complaints intensified, Hajjat Namyalo listened keenly, occasionally taking notes while questioning some of the local leaders present. Her calm but firm demeanor contrasted sharply with the charged emotions of the crowd. She expressed deep disappointment at the revelations, saying it was unacceptable for leaders to exploit citizens under the pretext of government empowerment. “These are hardworking Ugandans striving to feed their families. It is shameful that anyone would use the President’s name to steal from them,” she remarked.

She tasked the Resident District Commissioner, Mr. Pinto Ismaili, with leading a thorough investigation into the matter and ensuring accountability. Her orders were swift and decisive, and within minutes, the market chairman, Elvis Tinaziraba, was arrested to aid ongoing inquiries into the alleged mismanagement of traders’ funds.

Hajjat Namyalo reminded the gathered crowd that her office exists to protect the interests of the poor and marginalized. She promised to deliver their concerns directly to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and ensure that honest traders benefit from genuine government support programs. “The President’s vision is to uplift the ordinary citizen, not to enrich dishonest individuals hiding behind his name,” she said.

She also criticized the local authorities for their silence, questioning how such irregularities could go unchecked for so long. Her remarks drew cheers from the crowd, many of whom said it was the first time a senior government official had confronted local corruption head-on.

In the midst of the discussions, Hajjat Namyalo took time to visit the market stalls, noting the poor sanitation and lack of infrastructure.

She pledged to advocate for the construction of a modern market to improve hygiene, security, and income generation. “This place should reflect the dignity of the people who work here. You deserve better conditions,” she told the vendors.

According to the vendors, her visit restored their confidence in government and renewed their faith that justice could prevail. “For years we cried in vain, but today someone listened,” one trader said with relief.

The arrest of the chairman marked what many described as the beginning of accountability, while Hajjat Namyalo’s promise to deliver their concerns to the President rekindled optimism that change was finally within reach.