By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The State minister for Kampala, Kyofatogabye Kabuye, has announced the commencement of operations to restore trade order in the city.
About a fortnight ago, the ministry of Kampala together with KCCA announced a ban on street vending, and illegal taxi and Boda Boda stages in the Central Business District (Kampala) one way of decongesting the city effective February 19.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Kabuye directed the vendors to vacate roads and walkways by midnight today or face arrest and confiscation of their merchandise.
“At the stroke of midnight today, vendors found trading illegally on walkways, roads, road reserves, medians or other undesignated areas will have their items impounded and may be presented before court where necessary,” Minister Kabuye said.
KCCA has mapped out alternative workspaces to accommodate compliant traders. The authority says a total of 2,520 spaces have been identified in 17 KCCA-managed markets, and more spaces in 69 private markets within the city and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area where traders can operate.
“1,908 additional workspaces are available in neighbouring municipalities of Kira, Nansana, Entebbe and Makindye-Ssabagabo,” Kabuye said.
“Street vendors have been engaged directly and informed about the transition. Market vendors within established markets have also been consulted and encouraged to work together with incoming traders.ll”
KCCA has further pledged equitable allocation of spaces to vendors.
Kabuye explained that the operation is to restore trade order, strengthen consumer protection, improve sanitation and protect critical city infrastructure.
“Public spaces are designed for public use. Walkways are for pedestrians. Roads are for movement. Drainage channels are for water flow. When these spaces are occupied unlawfully, the entire city suffers,” he said.
He argued that the continued occupation of road reserves and walkways by vendors has contributed to congestion, poor sanitation and damage to city infrastructure.
The minister said enforcement will be carried out by KCCA law enforcement officers in uniform with visible identification numbers, supported by the Uganda Police Force and other security agencies.
“Enforcement will be firm, lawful and consistent,” he said, urging vendors to vacate voluntarily and avoid what he described as “the strong arm of the law.”
He, however, maintained that the intervention is “people-centred” and not intended to eliminate livelihoods.
“We are not eliminating livelihoods. We are formalising and safeguarding traders and buyers,” he said.
By Wednesday morning, some vendors had reportedly started vacating the streets voluntarily, according to the minister.
