Authorities in Mbarara have given street vendors, hawkers and unauthorized traders a two-week ultimatum to vacate the central business district or face forceful eviction.
The directive, aimed at restoring trade order and easing congestion in the city centre, was endorsed during a council session held at City Hall last week.
Speaking to Nile Post, Mbarara City Speaker Bonny Tashobya Karutsya said the grace period for illegal street vending had expired, noting that the move aligns with a broader national push to reorganize urban centres, similar to recent enforcement operations in Kampala.
“This is a directive going to all cities; it is not only for Kampala alone,” Tashobya said. “We are telling people to prepare. Within these two weeks, street vendors should move their merchandise to designated markets. We must restore order.”
He emphasized that the decision is not merely about beautification but also about fairness to formal traders who pay trading licences, property rates and ground rent.
“Since we have to let our vendors prepare to leave the streets, we must also show them where to go,” he said, listing the designated markets as Central Market, Nyamityobora, Koranorya, Kakoba, Ruti, Katete, and the weekly markets in Kijungu, Rwebikoona and Kyeera.
Tashobya maintained that the city has adopted a zero-tolerance stance, citing a recent incident in which a foreign national was arrested for vending household items on a pavement.
“If you want to do business, rent premises and pay the required taxes. The streets are not markets,” he added.
City Town Clerk Justine Barekye reinforced the warning, stating that once the 14-day deadline lapses, enforcement teams—backed by the Uganda Police—will conduct operations to clear remaining vendors.
“Those who resist risk not only arrest but also the permanent loss of their merchandise,” Barekye said, adding that notices have been issued in Runyakitara on the city notice board and through media channels to ensure traders are informed.
Mixed Reactions
The directive has drawn mixed reactions. While many licensed traders have welcomed the move as a step toward transforming Mbarara into a “smart city,” street vendors argue that designated markets lack the high foot traffic found along busy streets.
Some vendors contend that stalls in the Central Market are located in less visible sections that attract fewer customers, threatening their daily income.
“A city can only function if there is order,” Tashobya said. “We are calling upon all political leaders and stakeholders to work with us to ensure Mbarara becomes a modern, organized regional hub.”
Vendor Numbers
Available city data indicates that trader numbers vary across formal and informal sectors. The Mbarara Central Market was constructed to accommodate approximately 1,500 of the more than 3,000 vendors who operated in the old market.
Records show there are 12,784 licensed businesses in the city. Authorities say the city can accommodate up to 11,845 vendors across 21 gazetted markets. Of these, 6,513 spaces are currently occupied, while an estimated 5,332 vendors continue to operate on the streets.
Most street vendors are concentrated in high-traffic areas such as Mbaguta Street, High Street and Buremba Road, where they sell food, clothing and household items.
City officials say efforts are ongoing to relocate street vendors into the available spaces within the gazetted markets.