Tension is mounting in Wakiso District after councillors demanded clear explanations from the district leadership regarding the eviction of street vendors, insisting that no trader should be removed from the roads without a proper relocation plan.
During a heated council sitting, councillors tasked the Chief Administrative Officer, Jude Mark Bukenya, to explain where vendors will be taken before enforcement operations are carried out.
The directive follows a series of nationwide crackdowns on roadside vendors, which have sparked anxiety among traders and leaders alike.
“We cannot allow people to be chased off the streets when there is no clear plan on where they are going,” one councillor said during the session. “These vendors are part of our local economy and even contribute taxes to the district.”
Councillors argued that the affected vendors have been a source of local revenue, yet markets meant to accommodate them have not been developed.
“They have been paying taxes that support district activities, but up to now, there are no adequate markets to absorb them,” another councillor added.
Leaders also raised concerns that many of the vendors are beneficiaries of the government’s Parish Development Model (PDM), warning that eviction could disrupt their livelihoods and affect loan repayments.
“Some of these people are part of PDM. If you remove them from where they earn, how do you expect them to pay back the money?” a councillor questioned.
In response, Bukenya acknowledged the concerns but stressed that the district cannot defy a directive issued by the President.
“We cannot go against a presidential directive,” Bukenya said. “However, we are going to first sensitize the vendors about the benefits of this program and ensure that the process is handled peacefully.”
The councillors also demanded accountability over reports alleged allocation of Gunda and Nonve forest reserves, claiming the district had not been formally informed.
But Bukenya distanced himself from the matter, saying he had not received any official communication.
“I have not yet received any formal documentation regarding Gunda and Nonve forests, so I do not have details about that issue,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the council was also presented with budget estimates for the upcoming financial year, revealing a reduction from shs 321 billion to shs 296 billion. Despite the cuts, roads and infrastructure have been prioritized to receive the largest share of funding.
