Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) has backed its Association spokesperson Issa Sekitto, reflecting his growing dominance as the race for the Kampala Lord Mayor accelerates.

This coveted endorsements came last week when Issa Sekitto was on a consultative meeting with City Traders about there problems. Together, KACITA has a good size of both small and medium business traders in and around Kampala and they have typically spend millions of shillings supporting various candidates with vested interests.

KACITA has a contentious history with Mr. Sekitto. He has been their mouthpiece in times when many pressing issues including the recent protest over the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solutions (EFRIS) where they think President M7’s position on EFRIS and its application is not made clear yet.

Now, they have concluded that the Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago is fading politically and Mr. Sekito has an increasingly direct path to City Hall. And like much of the opposition establishments, KACITA appear more interested in making amends in promoting policies that promotes investment, innovation and more conductivity business environment in the city than antagonizing a famously sharp-elbowed leader who could have influence over city contracts and other priorities.

In a joint endorsement, KACITA  leaders praised Mr. Sekitto as a steady supporter of Kampala business community who could stand up to President Museveni as the president called for the dismantling bottlenecks to development, which includes addressing issues like youth unemployment and lack of opportunities for young people.

“As Issa Sekitto said when he recently addressed our members, when we need him in a fight, he will be in the foxhole with us until the end,” said one traders contacted about Issa’s candidature.

This traders (name withheld) did not address his change of heart since four years ago, when he said that Mr. Lukwago is no longer fit to lead the city and to fight for traders and market vendors in the city.  He did, however, acknowledge that Mr. Sekitto could be an important ally as the KACITA negotiates for business regulations, free education, health care and economic development in Kampala.

The endorsement was a boon to Mr. Sekitto, and a blow to other would be contestants who have already shown interest.  With just a few months to the nominations,  they urgently need fresh momentum to chip away at his steady lead in public opinion polling and had hoped the KACITA might help.

Mr. Sekitto thanked KACITA that backed him, saying they had been “failed by government for too long. “Without a strong middle and working class, no city can survive, let alone thrive,” he said.