Uganda Must Stay Firm on Trade Order Enforcement Amid Pushback

Uganda’s government has launched a nationwide push to enforce trade order, starting in chaotic Kampala where roadside vendors had turned roads and walkways into trading zones, crippling traffic for motorists and pedestrians alike.

After initial cleanups, the capital now resembles a proper city. The effort has expanded to all urban centers, guided by a March 10 circular from Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya to chief administrative officers and town clerks.

The directive targets unlicensed vending, informal settlements, and unplanned structures overwhelming streets. All commercial activities must follow the Trade (Licensing) Act, Cap 101, confining operations to licensed, designated areas.

Critics, including some pastors with makeshift churches and politicians feigning concern for the poor, are protesting. Traders complain of inadequate facilities and lighting in official markets, yet officials insist on continuing until full order is restored.

Notably, vendors have shunned modern markets like Lukaya, built at great expense, preferring roadside spots due to a sense of impunity. Ugandans have long envied the neat urban planning in neighboring countries.

Organized trading boosts economic growth, safety, liquidity, fair pricing, and reduces congestion—essential for attracting tourists who avoid chaotic, insecure environments.

Without enforcing trade order and planned developments, Uganda risks missing its ambitious tenfold growth goal by 2040.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)