Mbarara City Officials on Spot Over Nyamityobora Market Tender Award
By Amos Tayebwa
Mbarara
Tension is brewing in Mbarara after traders at Nyamityobora Matooke Daily Market accused the City Town Clerk, Justine Barekye, and the procurement officer, Edgar Rwabutagu, of connivance in awarding the market revenue collection tender to what they describe as an “outsider.”
The leadership of Kakoba Matooke Traders Co-operative Society, which has managed the tender for the past 14 years, has petitioned both the Town Clerk and the office of the Assistant Resident City Commissioner (ARCC), Polly Katwire Karanzi, contesting the procurement process.
According to documents seen by this reporter, the tender—previously held by the traders’ cooperative—was awarded on 10th September 2025 to Kacyber Security Technologies Ltd, at a weekly payment of UGX 4,010,000. Kakoba Traders had bid UGX 3,539,000, which they claim they have consistently paid without defaulting for over a decade.
Traders cry foul
Speaking to this publication, Steven Tuhumure, a director in Kakoba Co-operative and a vendor in the market, said the decision was unfair and ignored the government policy that encourages capable vendors to form cooperatives to manage market tenders.
“We have been collecting revenue for the council faithfully for 14 years without ever defaulting. We are part of this market, we understand the challenges traders face, and we have always maintained peace. Now the council has brought in a stranger who doesn’t even operate here,” Tuhumure said.
The cooperative leadership also alleges that the procurement process was irregular. On 18th August 2025, they wrote to Town Clerk Barekye expressing their concerns and were later summoned to her office, where she reportedly assured them their issues would be addressed during the evaluation process. However, they say no feedback was given, and instead, the tender was silently awarded to Kacyber Security Technologies.
Peterson Karangi, the General Secretary of the cooperative, warned that traders were ready to stage a demonstration if their demands were ignored.
“We want this tender cancelled. If by Friday this week there is no response from the Town Clerk, we shall mobilize ourselves and storm the City Council offices in protest. We cannot accept our market to be handed to strangers,” Karangi said.
Security pledges calm
ARCC Polly Katwire confirmed receipt of the traders’ petition and urged calm, warning against violence.
“As security, we are engaging the relevant offices to ensure the matter is resolved. Traders must remain calm and avoid demonstrations that may destabilize the city,” Katwire said.
A test for transparency
The Nyamityobora case has put Mbarara City Council under scrutiny, raising fresh questions about transparency and accountability in public procurement. For many traders, the issue goes beyond revenue collection—it touches on trust, ownership, and the right to manage their own livelihoods.
As the deadline for the cooperative’s ultimatum approaches, all eyes are now on the City Town Clerk’s office to see whether the concerns of the traders will be addressed or if the standoff will spill into the streets.
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