The Ministry of Trade, Industries and Cooperatives has defended the Government’s decision to evict vendors from the streets of Kampala, stating that street vending is not recognized under the existing legal framework and therefore operates outside the law.
The Ministry’s position was presented by Commissioner for Internal Trade, Zackey Kalega, during a meeting between Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee and officials considering findings in the 2025 Auditor General’s report.
Kalega was responding to a question raised by Kassanda North Member of Parliament Patrick Nsamba who sought clarification on whether the evicted vendors could report to the Ministry to be allocated alternative working space.
In his response, Kalega emphasized that the legal framework governing trade does not provide for street vending.
“The Trade Licensing Act, which the Ministry is responsible for, has not provided for street vendors. You are either a trader in a shop or a hawker, and the hawker is also supposed to work within a certain distance away from a trading centre,” he said.
Kalega further noted that operating on the streets is not legally provided for under current law, making it increasingly difficult for authorities to allow vendors to continue working in such spaces.
“So, they are trying to see how they can create space for those people, but it is becoming very difficult for them to work on the streets, because that one is not even provided for,” he said.
Despite the enforcement measures, the Ministry indicated that efforts are ongoing to explore alternative arrangements for affected vendors. Kalega revealed that discussions have included the possibility of establishing weekly markets within areas under the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
“But even in the negotiations going on, they were looking at the possibilities of having weekly markets within, for example, the KCCA. It used to be there on Sunday. It is being revised to see how they can be assisted. But we are working very closely with the local governments and KCCA to ensure that these people have some working space where they can work,” he said.
KCCA’s enforcement deadline continues to take effect, vendors have reiterated their commitment to clearing street vendors, noting that roughly 30,000 registered traders operate within KCCA-managed markets, yet many stalls remain vacant as vendors opt to sell along busy streets where foot traffic is higher.
A recent inspection of markets — including Usafi Market, Busega Market, and Kamwokya Market — revealed rows of empty stalls, some covered in dust and cobwebs.
At Usafi Market, traders were observed operating outside the premises despite more than 1,000 vacant stalls inside.
Busega Market, which spans approximately three acres, also had around 500 unoccupied stalls. Traders remaining inside the markets reported low customer turnout, citing competition from street vendors along nearby roads.
The enforcement, initially announced by Kampala Minister Minsa Kabanda, has been championed by KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, who maintained that the directive targets vendors operating along major streets and junctions across the capital.
While KCCA says it operates 17 public markets and that 69 others are privately owned, critics argue that many of these facilities lack proper planning, affordability, and accessibility for low-income traders.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to collaborating with local governments and KCCA to identify lawful and structured trading spaces, while ensuring compliance with the Trade Licensing Act.
The matter was discussed as part of Parliament’s oversight role during deliberations on the 2025 Auditor General’s report.