Africa-Press – Uganda. Patrick Oboi Amuriat, the president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), has demanded immediate compensation for street vendors affected by recent eviction operations, insisting government must take responsibility for losses incurred.
Addressing the media in Kampala, Amuriat said authorities should provide compensation or restore property destroyed during enforcement, arguing that many vendors had been operating with the knowledge of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
“There are people who paid revenue to the authorities, and now the same authorities are going after them,” he said.
Amuriat called for full accountability and urged Parliament to urgently scrutinise the enforcement exercise, warning against what he described as a pattern of policy implementation without consultation by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“The government has perfected a dangerous pattern — implement first, consult later, apologise never,” he said.
He maintained that street vending should not be criminalised and cautioned against excluding low-income earners from urban spaces, insisting cities must serve all citizens.
Amuriat also called for a halt to evictions until a clear and credible relocation plan is established, alongside a transparent and consultative process for future trade regulations.
His remarks come as government last week suspended enforcement of the controversial trade order across the country following mounting pressure from Parliament and public outcry over the treatment of urban vendors.
State Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, David Bahati, said the suspension is intended to allow further consultations and ensure a more orderly transition of traders into formal markets.
“The enforcement of the trade order is hereby suspended until we can harmonise our approach with all stakeholders and ensure that every displaced vendor has a designated place to go,” Bahati said.
The decision followed weeks of scrutiny by legislators, who warned that enforcement efforts risk undermining government commitments to protecting livelihoods, particularly under programmes targeting the urban poor.
A consultative meeting at the Ministry of Local Government, led by Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya, brought together leaders of the Federation of Uganda Traders Association (FUTA), headed by John Kabanda, to explore a more “humane” approach.
Despite reports from KCCA that licensed traders have increased from 12,536 to over 20,000, lawmakers noted that many vendors still lack access to physical stalls.
Parliament has also raised concerns over delays in market infrastructure, with only three of the 12 planned markets completed out of Shs 8.3 billion allocated for the 2024/25 financial year, according to the Auditor General’s December 2025 report.
The suspension of the trade order has provided temporary relief, but pressure continues to mount on government to prioritise compensation and long-term solutions for affected vendors.
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