Africa-Press – Uganda. A showdown is looming between KCCA enforcement officers and street vendors after authorities on Thursday gave an ultimatum for the latter to move off streets.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre, the state minister for Kampala, Kabuye Kyofatogabye said having given the vendors two weeks in which they were sensitized about the forthcoming operation, time is now for authorities to swing into action.
“Starting today at 8pm, vendors should have left as well as illegal taxi and boda boda stages. At the stroke of midnight today, vendors found trading illegally on walkways, drainage channels or green spaces will have their items impounded and them arrested and presented before court where necessary. Make our work easy by going off the streets,” Kyofatogabye said.
At the start of this month, authorities gave vendors two weeks ending today, February, 19, to organise themselves ahead of the forthcoming enforcement to restore trade order.
Howeer, vendors have insisted they will not go off streets, citing that they have nowhere to go.
Speaking on Thursday, Minister Kyofatogabye said during the two weeks, vendors have been sensitized on how they can take up spaces in various private and KCCA markets around the city.
He said 2520 spaces have been identified in various 19 KCCA markets around the city.
“We have provided these vendors with contacts of the 69 private markets in Kampala as well as those in Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area and provided avenue for online vending. KCCA has also engaged private market owners to expand absorption capacity to ensure no trader is left behind. Therefore, these markets are prepared to receive additional vendors,” he said.
The minister said going forward, KCCA enforcement officers together with police will start operations targeting street vendors as well as illegal taxi and boda boda stages.
Police spokesperson, Kituuma Rusoke said they are ready to support KCCA enforcement officers in bringing about order in the city.
“Uganda Police Force has a constitutional obligation to support civilian authority. This is a multi-agency approach on trade order. We ask for compliance. Everything will go well as long as the person listening to us and those affected by this government action complies,” Rusoke said.
He insisted these measures are meant to return order in the city.
“We are not eliminating livelihoods but safeguarding and ensuring order. Our objective is not to remove people from the economy but to organise it so they can benefit out of it well,” he said.
