A section of street vendors in Hoima City have resisted a city council directive to vacate roads in central business areas, citing threats to their livelihoods and lack of alternative trading spaces.
Yesterday, city officials led by Deputy City Clerk Cornelius Jobile carried out a full-day operation targeting more than 1,000 street vendors, including food sellers, cloth traders, and chapati vendors along Hoima-Fortportal Road, Rukurato, Main Street, and Freedom Road.
The operation is part of preparations to host the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 in Uganda.
Vendors expressed frustration at the eviction exercise. Grace Mateka, a mother of three and a street vendor for five years, said the operations jeopardise her family’s survival.
"I have three children who I am sponsoring through school. I have been able to do this because of my work here," she said. "We have nowhere to go."
Jane Kusemererwa, a vendor selling dodo along Hoima-Fortportal Road, called for gazetted trading areas before evictions are carried out.
"We are all looking for ways to survive. They cannot evict us from the street before preparing a designated place for us to operate from," Kusemererwa said, adding that she has relied on private loans to sustain her business over the past three months.
Other vendors noted that they contribute to local tax collection and play a role in the city’s economy, urging authorities to plan relocations carefully to prevent losses, particularly for perishable goods such as tomatoes and dodo. Many operate with support from government or private revolving funds.
Attempts to reach Deputy City Clerk Cornelius Jobile for comment were unsuccessful, as he was unavailable during the publication period.
Deputy City Mayor Sylvia Nalumaga said she was unaware of the previous operation but confirmed plans for organized evictions starting March 1, 2026.
“The city intends to conduct peaceful evictions and engage the community before relocating vendors,” Nalumaga said.
Proposed relocation sites include Hoima Central Market and the former animal slaughter site at Orufura, Kiryatete East Cell.
Local leaders echoed the call for proper planning. LC1 Chairman Godfrey Tumusiime Bantebya stressed that the city must establish gazetted sites to avoid harming residents relying on the street trade for survival.
Similarly, William Musinguzi, chairperson of Duhaga Roundabout Market, urged dialogue before forced evictions.
Meanwhile, some shop owners welcomed the council’s actions, saying clearing the streets is necessary to maintain order and improve the city’s appearance.
Elly, a trader in Kiryatete East, said that while vendors may have loans, relocating to proper business areas would benefit both traders and the city.
As the city prepares for Afcon 2027, tensions remain high between authorities seeking orderly operations and vendors defending their livelihoods.