Security concerns stop UNCCI election again
Mr Andrew Rugasira of the Good African Coffee is one of the contenders for the job.
What you need to know:
Daily Monitor has also learnt that the mood surrounding the election has reached a point where some of the top contenders have started receiving death threats
Kampala.
The election for the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI) president that was planned for Friday this week has been cancelled after the contest for some senior leadership positions has turned out to be a matter of life and death, Daily Monitor has learnt. This is the second time the election is cancelled.
Daily Monitor has also learnt that the mood surrounding the election has reached a point where some of the top contenders have started receiving death threats.
This development was confirmed in a press statement issued by the ministry of Trade last week and signed by minister Amelia Kyambadde.
In the statement she said: “The government has serious security concerns over the planned elections for the Chamber of Commerce scheduled for December 16.”
Different stakeholders have expressed fears. The chairperson UNCCI, Ms Olive Kigongo, in her letter dated October 27 to President Museveni further confirms these “security threats.”
Ms Kyambadde said: “Government has, therefore, decided to cancel the Chamber elections forthwith. All contenders to the chamber elections, district authorities, Resident District Commissioners and the business community are accordingly informed.”
Just earlier in the month the government had instituted an interim committee to probe the rot at UNCCI, in effect halting the election of the chamber leaders which was due last week on December 9.
A meeting involving stakeholders was convened by the minister where the legitimacy of the current Chamber executive to organise free and fair elections was at the heart of discussion.
After reaching a consensus with the stakeholders, Ms Kyambadde postponed the date of the elections to this week before again calling it off until the security concerns have been dealt with.
Interested in the presidency
Those who have expressed the desire to take the top seat include the incumbent, Ms Olive Kigongo, Mr Andrew Rugasira of the Good African Coffee, and Ms Amina Hersi, the proprietor of Oasis Mall.
About UNCCI
Formation. Set up in 1933 as a membership organisation, UNCCI was created by the business community with the main objective of promoting and protecting the interests of the members represented in all sectors of the economy at the time of anxiety caused by the great depression of the 1930’s.
