KAMPALA, UGANDA – After weeks of a tense and forceful occupation of the KACITA offices at Royal Complex, embattled former chairman Thadeus Musoke has ended his standoff and instead opted to form a rival traders association, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Musoke’s occupation of the offices, which was reportedly maintained with the support of police, has now ceased. Instead, he has embarked on a campaign to legitimize his new venture, moving from one major government office to another to explain his reasons for the split to anyone who will listen.
Sources indicate that Musoke is pulling out all the stops for the launch of his new association, scheduled for later this month. In a bold move to garner prestige and official backing, he has reportedly extended invitations to top government officials, including Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and State Minister for Trade, to grace the event as chief guests.
Further solidifying the breakaway, Musoke has managed to persuade several staff members from the original KACITA office to defect and join his new organization.
The roots of this dramatic split trace back to Musoke’s own political maneuvers. His troubles began when he actively involved himself in NRM politics, a move that fellow KACITA leaders viewed as a stark contradiction. For years, Musoke had been a vocal critic of the government, publicly blaming its unfavorable tax policies for burdening the business community. This perceived hypocrisy led to a loss of confidence and his eventual ousting from the leadership position.
This development signals a major schism within one of Uganda’s most prominent business associations, potentially fragmenting the collective voice of traders in Kampala at a time of significant economic pressure. It remains to be seen how much support Musoke’s new association will garner from the wider business community.
