Seven-day ultimatum issued to Bukedea roadside vendors

BUKEDEA - Authorities in Bukedea town council have issued a seven-day ultimatum to all roadside vendors to vacate the town as part of an enforcement directive on trade regulation.

The directive affects chapati sellers, mobile money operators and traders operating in containers, among others, who have been ordered to relocate from undesignated areas within the town.

In a letter dated March 25, 2026, Bukedea town clerk Johnson Opolot cites guidance from the Ministry of Local Government under the Trade Licensing Act, Cap 101, which requires all persons selling goods or services to possess valid trading licences and operate from designated areas.

Opolot warns that failure to comply with the directive will result in forceful eviction at the traders’ own cost. He, however, declined to record an on-air comment, stating that he does not have the prerogative to speak to the media on the matter.

Meanwhile, Bukedea town council chairperson Samuel Engole has urged authorities to proceed cautiously and first ensure that an alternative location is gazetted for the affected traders.

He emphasised that the directive is part of a broader government policy being implemented countrywide.

Some of the affected traders have expressed distress over the short notice.

Ochokit Obonipe-Aitaritoi, a roadside vendor who roasts potatoes, says he has nowhere to relocate, noting that he has neither land nor relatives to support him. He appealed to the government to reconsider the timeline and allow more time for adjustment.

Other members of the business community have also voiced concerns, describing the seven-day notice as too short and calling for a more humane approach to enforcement.