More vendors off Mbale city streets as crackdown enters second day

Mbale city authorities on Tuesday (March 3) continued enforcement of a government directive aimed at restoring trade order, clearing vendors from walkways, road reserves and other unauthorised public spaces after weeks of sensitisation and preparation.

Day two of the operation, which began at 6am, follows a February 5, 2025, directive issued by the Mbale city clerk. The directive had given Mbale city vendors up to March 2, 2026, to vacate the streets.

During a media briefing at the city chambers, Mbale industrial city division clerk Geoffrey Mugisa said the enforcement is grounded in policy and extensive preparation.

Traders in Mbale city empty shops of their merchandise under the watchful eye of police before the structures were demolished on Tuesday.

“Our goal is not to remove people from the economy, but our objective is to organise the economy, restore order and protect legitimate businesses that pay taxes for development," Mugisa said.

He added that public spaces must serve their intended purpose without inconveniencing pedestrians.

“Walkways are for pedestrians. Roads are for movement. Drainage channels are for water flow. When these spaces are occupied unlawfully, the entire city suffers,” he added.

By 6am, enforcement teams of minders, supported by security agencies, had begun clearing illegally occupied areas. Vendors found trading on walkways, road islands, medians and other ungazetted spaces would face impoundment of goods and possible court action, authorities said.

Mugisa said the exercise is designed to formalise, not eliminate, livelihoods.

Ahead of enforcement, the authority mapped and verified available trading spaces in 10 small council-managed markets, identifying 2,500 stalls ready for allocation. In addition, Mbale city is engaging private markets in neighbouring districts to expand absorption capacity and accommodate traders willing to relocate.

Fire broke out as authorities razed an illegal makeshift market.

Market vendors within established markets were consulted and encouraged to work with incoming traders. Officials said the allocation process will follow registration and verification procedures, with priority given to women, youth and persons with disabilities.

Security agencies warned that compliance would be enforced. Mbale industrial city division assistant RCC Amuza Banja urged traders to vacate voluntarily.

“Traders should move before being moved,” Banja said. “As a trader or Ugandan, do you feel proud of what is happening on our streets, the congestion and disorder? We shall be coming to remove those who may have refused to vacate peacefully.”

Traders look on during the operations on Tuesday morning.

Banja explained that restoring order will improve sanitation, consumer protection and movement within the city, while safeguarding critical infrastructure such as drainage systems, roads and pedestrian corridors.

Taxi operators have also been directed to operate strictly from designated parks and terminals, with illegal roadside stages banned. Mbale city is also gazetting formal boda boda stages across the two city divisions. Talks between boda boda leaders, Mbale city authorities and security agencies have begun to ensure sanitation is restored on the roads.

However, on Monday, the first day, there was sorrow among affected vendors who lost their goods during the operation.

Vendors at the lorry park, Naboa Road, Pallisa Road, Kumi Road, Republic Street, North Road lanes and Bishop Wasike lanes could not hold back tears as they watched their goods being destroyed, while others were loaded onto waiting city trucks. The enforcement teams brought down hundreds of makeshift, illegal wooden structures.

Authorities also destroyed scores of illegal toilets constructed in these areas, which posed public health risks due to poor disposal of human waste.

Fatuma Nabude, a food vendor operating in the corridors on Naboa Road, lamented and appealed to authorities to grant them one more month to reorganise themselves, but her plea was unsuccessful.

"We have just concluded voting, but the people we voted for have not come out to protect us or condemn the operation. We have fees to clear since children have just gone back to school," Nabukonde said.