KAMPALA. Mounting pressure from traders, religious leaders and lawmakers forces government to halt controversial crackdown on kiosks and street vendors, with consultations now set to shape a revised approach.
The government has suspended enforcement of its controversial “trade order” across cities and towns following widespread backlash and intense scrutiny in Parliament.
State Minister for Trade David Bahati announced the decision this week, saying the suspension was prompted by formal complaints from traders, religious leaders and the Inter-Religious Council.
The operation, which targeted kiosks and unauthorized street vendors, will remain on hold until at least July to allow for consultations.
The move follows a heated parliamentary session in which lawmakers criticized the manner in which the directive was enforced. Bukooli Central MP Solomon Silwany raised concern over the abrupt evictions of small business operators.
“Enforcement teams are abruptly removing kiosks and goods,” Silwany said, adding that Parliament had not been adequately briefed before the rollout. “How does the government intend to handle these affected traders?”
Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda went further, accusing enforcement squads of including security personnel alongside “goons” and questioning the legality of their actions. He demanded clarity on compensation for traders whose livelihoods were disrupted.
“We must implement these orders with a human face,” Ssemujju said.
In response, Bahati acknowledged shortcomings in the implementation and issued an apology to religious leaders over the conduct of enforcement teams. He maintained that the policy aims to organize urban trading and encourage use of formal markets, but admitted its execution had been flawed.
The government now plans to engage stakeholders, including the Inter-Religious Council, the Ministry for the Presidency and trader associations, before resuming enforcement. A review is expected at the end of June, with a revised approach to be rolled out in July.
Acting Leader of the Opposition Jonathan Odur welcomed the suspension but criticized what he described as the government’s tendency to “act first, ask later.”
He said any future policy must strike a balance between urban order and the economic survival of small-scale traders.
The suspension marks a temporary pause in a policy that had sparked concern over its impact on vulnerable urban livelihoods, leaving its long-term direction dependent on the outcome of upcoming consultations.