Vendors evicted as Mukono clears encroached roads

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Law enforcement officers, backed by the army and police, on Wednesday (April 1) began a major operation to remove hundreds of illegal street vendors operating along roads recently widened under a major road expansion project in Mukono town.

The exercise, which kicked off at exactly 5:00 am, is being led by Gerald Tonny Wamani, head of enforcement for Mukono Central Division.

Wamani and his team, supported by a heavy security deployment, started the clearance on Kayunga Road, targeting makeshift stalls and structures that had encroached on the expanded carriageway, including areas previously used as taxi parks. 

John Baptist Wamala, the NRM chairperson for Mukono Municipality, acknowledged the need for the clean-up.

“We want to see Mukono cleaned up and well-organised,” he said. “A modern town needs order on its roads.”

However, Wamala appealed to the officers to adhere to what had been agreed during planning, urging restraint where possible.

Security beefed up in Mukono during the ongoing operation. (Credit: Eric Yiga)

Vincent Lukwago, chairperson of the Mukono Traders' Association, appealed to the affected vendors to ensure they did not interfere with the operation.

“Please remove your belongings quickly before they get destroyed,” he urged. “Do not cause any disturbances that could make the situation worse.”

Piles of salvaged merchandise, ranging from fresh produce and second-hand clothes to household items, lay scattered along the roadside as traders hurriedly loaded them onto boda bodas and small trucks.

Some vendors pleaded with officials for more time to salvage their goods and cash, while others frantically tried to rescue merchandise from the structures before demolition teams moved in.



“The officers told us we had very little time,” one distressed trader said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Some of these stalls were not just temporary shacks; they had proper foundations. We built them thinking the road expansion was complete and we could operate safely.”

Authorities argue that the encroachments have been hindering smooth traffic flow, posing safety risks to motorists and pedestrians, and undermining the objectives of the multi-million shilling road expansion project.

The operation continued into Wednesday afternoon, with officials indicating it could continue for several days until all illegal structures along the expanded roads are cleared.

Mukono Municipality authorities are yet to announce alternative vending sites for the affected traders. 

This enforcement action is part of a broader national effort by Ugandan urban authorities to restore order in rapidly growing towns and cities.