Xavier Radio Ug News 24 7
By Kabuye Ronald
The National Entrepreneurs and Traders Association (NETA)–Uganda has welcomed the two-week ultimatum issued by the Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, directing street vendors to vacate Kampala’s streets ahead of renewed enforcement.
The directive comes after more than three months of severe congestion caused by thousands of street vendors, illegal boda boda operators, and unauthorized taxi stages occupying nearly every corner of the city.
In an exclusive interview with Trusted News, NETA–Uganda National Chairperson, Dr. Thadeus Musoke Nagenda, praised the move but urged government to complement enforcement with empowerment initiatives for affected vendors.
“As NETA–Uganda, we welcome the government’s implementation of the trade order policy, especially regarding street vendors, whose continued presence on the streets has crippled businesses operating in shops,” Dr. Musoke said. “We support removing them from the streets, but we also call for partnership with government to empower them with business skills, knowledge, and startup capital through their SACCOs, so they can establish legal businesses.”
Dr. Musoke noted that the directive was timely, revealing that NETA had already instructed its legal team to take Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to court over delays in implementing the trade order.
“The existence of street vendors has grossly affected our members, many of whom are recording heavy losses,” he added.
He also warned the newly elected Lord Mayor, Eng. Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga, and opposition councillors against politicizing issues affecting the business community, emphasizing that enforcement of trade laws should not be compromised for political gain.
It should be recalled that KCCA enforcement halted implementation of the city trade order in October last year. Initially, enforcement was relaxed during the Christmas season to allow vendors to benefit from increased seasonal trade. The situation later deteriorated during the presidential and other elections, as authorities deliberately avoided enforcement to prevent actions that could negatively affect votes for certain candidates, particularly from the ruling NRM party in Kampala.
Speaking to journalists at the government-owned Media Centre in Kampala on Thursday, Minister Kabanda initially directed KCCA and police to immediately enforce the city trade order. However, following appeals from leaders of street vendors, she revised her directive and granted vendors a two-week grace period to vacate the streets voluntarily.
Kabanda stated that the political season has ended and warned that government will no longer tolerate congestion, disorder, lawlessness, or abuse of public space under the guise of survival or politics.
She emphasized that Kampala is entering a phase of strict, full, and continuous enforcement of all city laws and ordinances. The minister also highlighted that government has provided alternatives for vendors, including gazetted markets and designated boda boda stages. Additionally, she announced that KCCA will reinstate the Sunday market, allowing vendors to operate from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to reduce congestion and facilitate city cleaning.
KCCA Deputy Executive Director Benon Kigenyi acknowledged that street vending has significantly disrupted movement within the city. He explained that laws governing trade in Kampala—including the KCCA Act, the Trade Licensing Act, and the Local Government (Kampala City Traders) Bylaws—are intended to protect lives and maintain order, not to punish traders.
Kigenyi noted that workspaces are available in gazetted markets, with plans underway to establish additional markets in areas such as Kamwokya and Ggaba, as well as to complete Kitintale Market to create more trading spaces. He added that KCCA will conduct a two-week sensitization campaign targeting street vendors, taxi operators, and boda boda riders to encourage voluntary compliance and self-enforcement.
