Roadside vendors operating in Kayabwe Town Council, Mpigi District, have been evicted in a crackdown that has left many counting losses and accusing their leaders of unfair treatment.
The affected traders, who had been operating along the main road and verandas of buildings in Kayabwe trading centre, expressed frustration after being chased away without what they described as a clear relocation plan.
The operation was conducted by Kayabwe Town Council leaders led by Mayor Zeedi Kasule as part of efforts to streamline and beautify towns along the Kampala–Masaka Road.
During the exercise, vendors including chapati sellers, chips vendors, roasted meat and chicken sellers, hawkers and other small-scale traders were removed from the roadsides, leaving the town noticeably clear.
According to Mayor Zeedi Kasule, the move was in line with a directive issued by Works and Transport Minister Edward Katumba Wamala to ensure cleanliness and order in towns along the highway.
“Today we are here in Kayabwe implementing the directive of our senior, General Edward Katumba Wamala, who ordered that towns along Masaka Road must be clean. As leaders and technical teams, we decided to remove roadside vendors to restore order in our town,” Kasule said.
He added that beyond cleanliness, the operation was also aimed at reducing road accidents.
“In many cases, accidents have claimed the lives of our people who operate along the roads. Vehicles lose control and knock them down, leaving some injured or even dead. Removing them from the roadside will help prevent such incidents,” he said.
However, the evicted vendors said the decision was abrupt and inconsiderate.
“We voted for these leaders hoping they would organise us, but instead they have left us crying. How do you chase us from the roadside without providing a market? They should have first informed us and given those who can afford rent time to find space, while others look for alternatives. Removing us without warning is unfair,” one of the vendors said.
Other traders appealed to government to intervene, saying the eviction has come at a difficult time when many families are struggling to raise school fees.
“We are in a season of taking children back to school, but we have been chased from where we earn money. No alternative place has been provided. We used to earn because vehicles would stop and buy from us,” the traders said.
The vendors have since called for a structured urban development plan that accommodates small businesses in growing towns like Kayabwe.
“We ask for a clear plan for emerging towns like Kayabwe while the population is still manageable. Let leaders first provide designated spaces before evicting us from the roadside,” they appealed.
Kayabwe Town Council is one of the three town councils in Mpigi District and is internationally known for hosting the Equator Line Uganda, a major tourist attraction.
