Kampala — Street vendors, taxi drivers, and boda boda riders across Kampala are preparing to vacate unauthorised trading and staging areas ahead of an 8 p.m. Thursday deadline set by city authorities, as enforcement of a new trade order looms.
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the Ministry of Kampala Capital City have directed informal traders to clear walkways, verandas, and major roads such as Namirembe Road and Luwum Street, while taxi and boda boda operators are required to move to designated parks. Officials warn that failure to comply could result in arrest and impoundment of goods after midnight.
Minister of State for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Kyofatogabye Kabuye, reiterated the city’s position:
“No street vendor will be allowed to operate past 8 p.m., as the directive takes effect. Enforcement officers, working with police, will begin action immediately after the deadline.”
Despite the warning, traders were seen arranging produce, clothing, and household goods along busy streets Thursday morning. Many expressed uncertainty over relocation, with some, like Nyawinyo Monicah, a mother of five, and Taka Jennifer, a mother of seven, concerned about school fees and livelihoods.
KCCA has identified over 4,500 spaces in public and private markets to accommodate displaced vendors, prioritizing vulnerable groups and using a first-come, first-served registration system. However, uptake has been slow, prompting criticism from some quarters that more support is needed for informal operators.
The directive also targets taxi and boda boda riders operating outside gazetted stages, with authorities urging compliance to maintain order, sanitation, and pedestrian access in Kampala’s central business district.
As the city waits for the 8 p.m. deadline, residents and traders alike are watching closely to see whether Kampala’s streets will be cleared smoothly—or if tensions will escalate between informal operators and enforcement teams.
