By Joseph Kiggundu
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) enforcement team under the supervision of the executive director, Sharifah Buzeki have demolished kiosks and unplanned makeshift structures in the city in their attempts to evict vendors and enforce trade order.
The Thursday night operation forms part of a wider city crackdown following a two-week ultimatum directing street vendors, boda boda riders without designated stages, and taxis operating outside gazetted parks to vacate Kampala’s streets by 8:00pm on February 19.
Ms Buzeki was joined by KCCA’s Director for Public Health and Environment, Dr Sarah Zalwango, and the Authority’s spokesperson, Daniel Nuweabine, during the overnight operation.
Authorities say enforcement will continue, with strict action promised against individuals who ignore the directive and persist with street operations.
Unspecified number of people were also arrested on different charges during the operation in which the enforcement team told homeless individuals found sleeping on the streets to vacate.
The initial focus is on the Central Business District (CBD), specifically targeting high-traffic zones like Ben Kiwanuka Street, Luwuum Street, Nasser Road, and Kikuubo Lane.
KCCA officials say they have secured approximately 4,500 stalls to relocate vendors, with 2,520 located within the city and 1,980 outside the CBD. Officials have encouraged vendors to occupy available spaces in the city’s 17 public markets.
The operation is part of a “Smart City” initiative aimed at improving sanitation, restoring trade order, and reducing fire and accident risks.
The Kampala City Traders Association (Kacita ) had previously threatened to boycott license fees if order was not restored, citing losses due to blocked arcade entrances.
Reacting to the crackdown, the outgoing Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, recently criticised the KCCA’s enforcement. While he has historically used the 2022 legal challenge as a basis for opposition, he recently reiterated that the current evictions are illegal and unreasonable because they lack structural solutions like modern markets.
Mr Lukwago argues that the law (Trade Licensing Act 1969 and Trade Order Ordinance 2006) does not abolish street vending but creates a mechanism for licensing and regulation, which the KCCA has failed to implement.
In a recent media interview, the seasoned lawyer and politician claimed the central government has refused to allocate funds for constructing modern markets, despite these being part of the KCCA’s strategic plans for 2021–2026.This is not the first time KCCA has carried out similar operations . Several have been done in the past two decades but vendors adamantly return to the streets . It remains to be seen whether a repeat of the past won’t happen again .