By Trusted News Ug
A political storm is brewing at the heart of Uganda’s largest traders’ body, the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), raising the fundamental question: Is KACITA’s fight against NRM sustainable or even justifiable following the suspension of its acting Chairperson, Thadeus Musoke Nagenda, for aligning with the ruling party?
On August 4, 2025, KACITA’s Finance Secretary Timothy Baguma abruptly announced the removal of Musoke, citing his recent involvement in politics specifically his decision to contest for Kampala Lord Mayor on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket as grounds for suspension. In Musoke’s place, Baguma installed Hajji Isa Sekitto, a known supporter of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), as interim leader for a year-long “transitional” period.
But far from being a straightforward administrative move, the incident has exposed deep political fault lines within the traders’ association and raised questions about both legality and intention.
No Legal Basis for Suspension
A review of KACITA’s own constitution, obtained by Trusted News, shows no clause prohibiting office bearers from participating in politics. Article 21, which outlines the grounds and procedures for removal, makes no reference to party affiliation or political activity. The suspension of Musoke, therefore, lacks legal grounding within the association’s established governance structures.
“This is a personal attack disguised as policy,” said one insider at KACITA. “Supporting NRM shouldn’t be a crime.”
This sentiment resonates among many members, especially considering that Musoke previously ran for Parliament in 2021 under the opposition Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) without facing any internal backlash. His only mistake now, it seems, is choosing the ruling party, a move that has sparked outrage from opposition-aligned members who view NRM as the political enemy.
Double Standards and Power Plays
Observers note a glaring double standard: “When he ran under ANT, nobody said a word. Now because he’s with NRM, the ruling government, his opponents are out with pitchforks.”
This contradiction reveals the increasingly politicized nature of KACITA, an organization that was meant to serve as a neutral platform to advocate for traders’ interests regardless of the political winds blowing through City Hall or Parliament. As one member pointed out: “KACITA is supposed to be a bridge to government, not a battleground of political rivalry.”
Indeed, traders rely on KACITA to lobby the government on critical issues such as taxation, customs regulations, and electricity tariffs. With Musoke aligned to the ruling party, some argue he is better placed to represent the interests of traders in government corridors so why remove him now?
The Traders Speak and Organize
In response to what many view as a political coup, Musoke convened an Extraordinary General Meeting at KACITA’s headquarters. The outcome? Members agreed to pursue dialogue and, if that fails, hold fresh, transparent elections on December 5, 2025, during the association’s Annual Genera Meeting . For many, this would be the first real democratic choice in years.
“This association belongs to the traders, not to political factions or media opportunists,” Musoke declared.
But the crisis has escalated. Musoke has reported threats against his life, naming Sekitto and others, with police investigations now underway. At the same time, discontent is rising among small traders, who fear the collapse of the association could leave them without a voice in national policy debates.
“If KACITA collapses under leadership confusion, small traders will have no structured channel to engage government on their pressing challenges,” warned a concerned member.
Will Hajji Isa Sekitto’s Planned Demonstration Yield Fruits for Traders or Worsen the Situation instead.
Tensions are mounting within Uganda’s business community as Hajji Isa Sekitto, threatens to lead amassive traders’ strike and shop closureonAugust 19, in protest of the Uganda Revenue Authority’s (URA) new tax policies. The move, announced during a recent meeting in Kampala, has sparked heated debate among traders and policymakers alike: will this demonstration bring meaningful change or only deepen the crisis facing Uganda’s urban trade sector?
Sekitto’s planned demonstration may highlight trader grievances, but without unity, transparency, and a clear, coordinated strategy, it risks worsening the situation rather than solving it. For a strike to yield real fruits, it must be part of a broader, inclusive effort not a reactionary measure fueled by internal politics.
Unless KACITA resolves its leadership, crisis and presents a united front, the August 19 strike could go down as a missed opportunity or worse, a self-inflicted wound on the very traders it aims to defend.
So, Is KACITA’s Fight Against NRM Sustainable?
In its current form, based on selective enforcement, constitutional overreach, and political intolerance the answer is no.
Attempting to sideline a leader based solely on his affiliation with the ruling party not only undermines KACITA’s internal democracy, but also weakens its credibility as a non-partisan, trader-focused organization. The decision to punish Musoke for spporting President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni reveals more about internal political biases than about any legitimate concerns over governance.
Unless KACITA recommits to its founding principles, neutrality, democratic representation, and advocacy for all traders regardless of political colour, its fight against NRM is unsustainable. Worse still, it risks alienating a large portion of its membership and losing access to crucial channels within the government.
As December’s elections draw near, traders have a choice: double down on factionalism, or restore unity and focus on the real issues that matter, economic opportunity, fair taxation, and business stability.
The future of KACITA and the collective voice of Uganda’s trading class depends on that choice.
