City authority says to reallocate abandoned market stalls to new traders

KAMPALA - The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has unveiled new plans to reallocate abandoned market stalls to new traders as part of efforts to restore order and cleanliness in the city's markets.

The authority identified over 2,520 vacant spaces in its 16 public markets and an additional 1,980 spaces in 69 private markets across the city and the metropolitan areas of Mukono, Wakiso, Entebbe and Mpigi municipalities.

The move is aimed at completely eliminating street vending, which has been a major challenge in Kampala city.

The vendors, many of whom had joined hawkers to sell their merchandise on city streets, green spaces and prohibited areas, had acquired stalls, which they later abandoned for unclear reasons.

“In the new enforcement to crack down on all illegal traders and street hawkers in the city, we have established that there were over 2,500 free market stalls that were abandoned by vendors who decided to conduct street trade, which is against the law,” KCCA Spokesperson Daniel Muhumuza Nuweabaine told New Vision Online.

KCCA identified 2,520 available stalls in public markets across the city, including Busega, USAFI, Wandegeya, Kamwokya, City Abattoir Port Bell Road and many others. An additional 1,980 spaces have been secured in surrounding municipalities markets such as in Mukono, Entebbe, Nansana, Wakiso and Mpigi.

“We have already advertised these stalls, which can be acquired freely with the application letter to the allocation committees through the office of market masters in all 16 markets. Others not comfortable with government markets can apply to 69 private markets in the city and the metropolitan area to conduct business there,” Nuweabaine added.

KCCA had issued multiple ultimatums for vendors to vacate all unauthorised trading spaces, including roadsides, walkways, and taxi parks, as part of the “new trade order” campaign, but needed alternative relocation spaces to enforce the law.

“Those who had acquired the stalls and abandoned them shall lose them to new applicants who are willing to be accommodated in a new trade order. We do not entertain hawking in Kampala central business district and those vendors asking for licences should go to other cities to conduct their businesses there,” he insisted.

During the KCCA market assessment tour in all Kampala markets on February 17, 2026, KCCA executive director Sharifah Buzeki said that the enforcement operation, which is set to begin on February 19, will be conducted jointly with the Police, army and KCCA law enforcement officers.

“KCCA warns that vendors found trading on the streets will be arrested, arraigned in court and have their merchandise impounded,” Buzeki said.

We have available spaces around Kira Municipality, in Kira, Kireka farmers market, Naalya, Sezibwa, Kyaliwajjala, Bweyogerere, Najera II and Kayemba markets, which can accommodate many roadside traders.

“In Mukono Municipality, we have Kyetume market, Goma market, all of which can accommodate over 1000 vendors. In Entebbe Municipality, there is Kitoro market, then Namasuba market in Makindye-Ssabagabo and Namulanda in Mpigi district,” Buzeki added.

The KCCA Spokesperson, Daniel Muhumuza Nuweabaine, speaking on the plans to relocate abandoned market stalls to stranded street hawkers and new traders. (Credit: Isaac Nuwagaba)

Vendors react

Jimmy Kawuma, the chairperson for Fish Vendors Department in the Busega Market, said the Government needs to open access routes in the market and provide an alternative power source which they can use when power goes off.

“We welcome hawkers to this market, but we need land to locate those selling fish in Busega taxi park, which President Yoweri Museveni promised us on July 14, 2025, when he visited us,” he said.

“Part of the market floods when it rains, and our goods get spoiled, which needs to be rectified because it will again become a reason for those shunning stalls for streets,” he added.

Nalwanga Lwanga, a fruit vendor in Busega market, asked for ‘Katale’ loans to facilitate hawkers leaving the streets to get starting capital and conduct serious business.

“Some of us do not have enough capital to conduct business in these government markets. KCCA took time to chase hawkers from the streets because they have been disrupting those in markets due to unfair competition for customers,” she said.

Ssekilanda Kizito, the chairperson of Busega market garment traders, welcomed the Government's move to relocate hawkers, saying priority should be given to previously registered traders and vulnerable groups, including women, youth and persons with disabilities.

Kenneth Kazibwe, the chairperson of street vendors in Kampala, resisted the relocation, arguing that the Government has not fulfilled its promise to establish at least two markets in each city division while citing inadequate spaces and concerns over a lack of customers in designated markets.

“The same authority should compel all taxis operating on the Entebbe Road route to use USAFI market park to attract customers. The public transport issue should be revisited to attract customers to these markets,” Kazibwe insisted.

Tom Nyanzi, operating a butcher stall in Busega, wants KCCA first to fix the market septic tank, which leaks when the floods enter the market.

“Part of this market leaks when it rains, and we need KCCA to fix these anomalies, then proceed to relocate these hawkers to Busega because we still have empty stalls which are not utilised,” Nyanzi advised.

Bruhan Twinomugisha, a vendor dealing in electronics, challenged KCCA to enforce the directive and create trading orders for all traders to benefit.

“We cannot keep operating on losses when others are enjoying the same customer base without following the law. KCCA should create this order because they are the existing government,” he said.