The Luweero District LC5 Chairperson, Erasto Kibirango, has strongly opposed the government’s directive to evict roadside traders, arguing that the move will deepen poverty and deprive many families of their only source of livelihood.
Kibirango noted that many people operating along roads in areas such as Balikyewuunya Market and Balikyejjusa Market depend entirely on small-scale roadside businesses to survive. He warned that enforcing evictions without providing alternatives would be both unfair and economically damaging.
“Many of these people survive on what they earn from selling roasted plantain, pineapples, bananas, mangoes, and other items. Chasing them away means taking away food and the opportunity to earn and pay school fees for their children,” Kibirango said.
He further questioned the justification of the directive, emphasizing that in many of the affected areas, there are no significant safety threats or law violations linked to the traders.
“There is no serious crime or accidents caused by these traders. Why remove them when there is no proper alternative in place?” he asked.
Kibirango called on leaders at all levels to reconsider the decision and engage stakeholders before enforcing the directive.
His remarks come days after Luweero Town Council, through a notice issued on 26th March by Town Clerk Lydia Nabaasa, ordered traders, transport operators, landlords, and the general public to comply with a 14-day ultimatum as part of a town-wide clean-up and reorganization exercise.
The directive, aligned with guidance from the Ministry of Works and Transport, seeks to remove traders operating in road reserves, illegal kiosks, and other unauthorized structures as part of efforts to improve sanitation, urban planning, and traffic flow.
Under the order, roadside vendors in Luweero Town have been given two weeks to vacate, with authorities warning of enforcement action against those who fail to comply.
However, growing resistance from local leaders like Kibirango highlights the tension between enforcing urban order and protecting livelihoods, as affected communities await possible reconsideration of the directive.
