economy 17 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Evictions Shatter Dreams of Street Vendors Like Mama Nakitende
The ongoing eviction of street vendors in Uganda has left single mother Mama Nakitende and many others without their livelihoods, threatening the education and futures of their children. While cleaner streets are a goal, the lack of alternatives raises urgent questions about balancing order with human realities. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/street-vendor-evictions-do-you-know-where-your-mama-nakitende-is--5426664
Mama Nakitende, a familiar street vendor selling bananas, was a single mother supporting six children from a tiny rented room. With startup capital under Shs300,000, her daily sales determined if her kids ate or attended school.
Her makeshift stall, recently demolished in government-led evictions, was her sole source of income. To her, it symbolized family survival; to authorities, an eyesore blocking trade order.
Now, she faces the heartbreaking task of explaining this loss to her children, whose dreams of becoming doctors, engineers, or lawyers hang in the balance. Such evictions affect thousands of women vendors living hand-to-mouth.
Operations in Kampala, Nebbi, and along highways like Kampala-Gulu have razed kiosks and roadside stalls, enforcing a ministerial directive for organized trade. Yet, without relocation options, these actions push families into poverty.
Cleaner streets benefit many, but at what cost? The writer urges checking on personal ‘Mama Nakitendes,’ offering support or encouragement amid the distress.
Source: Daily Monitor