By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu
MBARARA
Mbarara City Council has embarked on a sweeping cleanup exercise that has seen several businesses closed and vendors evicted from undesignated trading areas. The operation, which began on 16th March, is expected to last twenty days, according to City Clerk Justine Barekye. Most affected businesses were mobile money shops, show dealers among others.
On February 24, the council issued a notice instructing vendors operating outside designated shops and markets to relocate. However, many traders ignored the directive, choosing to remain on verandas and roadside spaces. Authorities have since moved in to enforce the order, shutting down businesses that failed to comply.
Barekye explained that the exercise is part of a broader effort to “reset and beautify the city,” while also ensuring that licensed businesses can operate without unfair competition from vendors who do not pay taxes.
While some residents welcomed the initiative, others criticized its timing and execution. Bagonza Huzaima, a medical supplies dealer in Mbarara, acknowledged the importance of order but argued that the city should have first allocated affordable stalls for displaced vendors.
“Most people running businesses from verandas cannot afford rent in malls and shops. Abrupt evictions will increase crime and reduce tax collection,” Bagonza warned.
Mbarara joins other Ugandan cities such as Kampala and Mbale in implementing “smart city” programs aimed at improving urban order, sanitation and aesthetics. The initiative reflects a growing push across Uganda to modernize urban centers and attract investment.
