By Nelson Kiva in Mubende

Mubende town council authorities evicted over 100 food vendors who have been operating at Mubende highway stage on Tuesday, principally as a way of keeping the town clean and properly planned.

The operation led by Mubende town clerk, Moses Ssempa, was overseen by police. All the stalls and structures that had been erected by the vendors were demolished.

Ssempa said that the vendors had been given a grace period of one year to relocate to three places which were gazetted by the town council for them.

However they adamantly refused to relocate, prompting the authorities to intervene by forceful means.

The town clerk identified the places for relocation as Kyatereka, Kirungi and Kaweri.

But the vendors vowed not to go to the earmarked places, arguing that they are remote and customers will find it hard to access them.

Karim Ndugwa, one of the vendors, told New Vision that the grace period they were given was not enough and that the places they have been given as alternatives are located in the outskirts of the town.

He said the relocation points have few people who cannot sustain their business.

He appealed to the town council to look for another area near the town center from where they can operate productively.

Mubende town council LC3 chairperson, Ziwa Kizito, said that the eviction was in line with the council resolution that was passed in 2011/2012 financial year to have all illegal and temporary structures in town demolished.

He added that a clean and a well planned town are necessary to upgrade it to a municipal status.

Towards the end of last year, the quest to have Mubende town upgraded to a municipal status was recharged with the backing resolutions by the town council and the district council passed.