Beti Kamya warns vendors against flooding streets during festive season

As the festive season draws near, vendors have been warned against flooding Kampala streets to display their merchandise.

For many years, vendors have been tapping into the festive season by pouring their merchandise on the streets to make a quick buck.

However, while addressing journalists at the Media Centre in Kampala, Minister Beti Kamya warned that the long arm of the law will not hesitate to apprehend those who pour goods on streets.

“We know that during this time, the streets are awash with vendors and this comes with a lot of challenges including traffic jam but we warn them that KCCA enforcement officers and police will be on standby to arrest them,” Kamya said on Thursday afternoon.

The Kampala Minister explained that on many occasions shop owners in the city have always complained against vendors on the streets with whom they compete for customers.

“It is not that we want to harass or hound them but for their own good. Christmas season does not mean that vendors are free to flood streets. We want to let shop owner who pay taxes in form of licences and import duty among others to enjoy the festive season.”She said that KCCA would get a place where the street vendors would be allowed to operate from other than flooding the streets.

The Kampala Minister also warned taxi operators and boda boda riders against illegal stages and parking which he said lead to traffic jam in the city.

She asked operators to use only the designated stages or else they would be arrested and their vehicles impounded by both KCCA and police.

Kamya warned churches and entertainment places against noise pollution which she said violates other people’s rights.

“Law enforcement teams will be moving around to see places that don’t adhere to the guidelines. We shall not tolerate lawlessness. Laws put in place should be respected by citizens," she said