Roadside vendors in Mukono have vowed to resist a municipal eviction directive, citing the lack of an alternative trading space.
The order, reportedly issued by Town Clerk Francis Byabagambi, requires all vendors operating along major routes—including the Jinja–Kampala highway, Mukono–Kayunga road, and Seeta–Namugongo road—to vacate by April 1, 2026, or face enforcement action. Temporary roadside structures have already been marked for demolition.
Affected traders argue that the directive is both unfair and impractical, as the municipality currently lacks a functional public market. Many previously operated from Kame Valley Market, which is being demolished to make way for a modern facility.
“We cannot leave the streets when there is nowhere to go. This is our only source of income,” said Peter Kimbugwe, chairperson of the vendors.
Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze Bakireke has sided with the traders, warning that eviction without resettlement arrangements would be unlawful. “It is mandatory for the town clerk to identify where these people will operate before evicting them,” Nambooze said.
The vendors plan to petition municipal authorities, calling for dialogue and the establishment of a temporary market to bridge the gap during redevelopment.
