Kampala Lord Mayor-elect Ronald Balimwezo has rolled up his sleeves and openly challenged fresh directives city authorities issued on street vendors.
Balimwezo, who is yet to be sworn in, has opposed the current enforcement approach targeting street vendors, arguing that any removals must strictly follow lawful procedures.
His position places him at odds with the central government and the Kampala Capital City Authority's technical leadership, which have recently emphasized restoring order and clearing public spaces in the city.
Kampala Minister Hajjat Minsa Kabanda warned that authorities would not tolerate disorder in public spaces, signaling continued enforcement.
“Government will no longer tolerate disorder, lawlessness, and abuse of public space in the name of survival,” Kabanda said.
However, Balimwezo accused the minister of overstepping her authority, maintaining that implementation of council policies lies with the KCCA executive director, not the political overseer.
“The executive director has a mandate of implementing the policies made by council. What the minister is actually doing, it is an illegality,” Balimwezo said.
The early disagreement has alarmed political and business leaders, who argue that coordination between the political and technical arms of KCCA is critical for stability and service delivery in the capital.
Kampala Central Mayor Salim Uhuru called for a more coordinated and humane approach to enforcement, saying street vendors — commonly referred to as “Batembeyi” — must be guided rather than abruptly removed.
“For all the ‘Batembeyi’ to move out of the streets, it is a directive. We are supposed to guide them in the right way on how to move them,” Uhuru said.
Business leaders say the dispute reflects longstanding failures to implement sustainable solutions for informal traders, despite repeated directives and operations over the years.
Thadeus Musoke Nagenda, president of the National Enterprise and Traders Association, noted that previous presidential directives and interventions have failed to permanently resolve the issue.
“Already there is a standing directive by the president. So this issue has been just recurring. The government has tried to formulate several interventions but they are not effective,” Musoke said.
He proposed the creation of a special fund to help vendors transition into formal businesses, arguing that many lack capital to rent space in established markets.
He also warned that markets previously allocated for relocation, including Wakiseka Market, are already experiencing encroachment and mismanagement.
KCCA has previously struggled with prolonged tensions between elected leaders and the technical executive.
Under outgoing Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago, disputes with the executive wing disrupted governance at City Hall for more than a decade, often spilling into public confrontations and legal battles.
Political analysts say similar tensions could resurface unless institutional roles and legal procedures are respected from the outset of Balimwezo’s tenure.
Former mayoral aspirant Muhammad Kasirye Ssendagire called for public sensitization on trade regulations, arguing that enforcement without civic education risks further resistance.
Veteran politician Capt. Francis Babu, meanwhile, stressed the need for broader structural solutions, including improved urban planning and tackling rural-to-urban migration.
“To bring about trade order is extremely important in any country,” Babu said. “Sometimes there are things that you can do which are not very nice to try and bring about order.”
Stakeholders have proposed structured alternatives such as designated markets and regulated street trading zones as a compromise, aiming to restore order while avoiding confrontation in Uganda’s capital.
