Why govt suspended trade order enforcement

_______________

The government has suspended the enforcement of the trade order across the country, according to the Minister of State for Trade, Cooperatives and Industry in charge of Industry, David Bahati.

Bahati made the revelation during the plenary sitting on April 24, 2026, following concerns raised by Members of Parliament (MPs).

Trade order is a government-driven directive, often enforced by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and municipal authorities, aimed at regulating urban commercial activities by clearing street vendors, hawkers and unauthorised structures from walkways and roadsides.

It seeks to enforce a structured, legal trading environment intended to improve sanitation, safety and traffic flow, frequently requiring traders to relocate to designated, licensed markets.

In February this year, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and local government authorities across the country launched a major crackdown on roadside vendors and illegal kiosks in a bid to create orderliness.

The move has, however, sparked public outcry, with lawmakers adding their voices and urging the government to reconsider the action.

Bahati told legislators that the government is consulting on how best to manage the matter following concerns raised by religious leaders and traders.

“We shall have a final meeting at the end of June so that at the beginning of July, we have a refined way of operating. We did apologise to the religious leaders because some people, while carrying out evictions made reckless statements against various religions,” Bahati said.

He clarified that the suspension does not negate the evictions that have already been carried out. “We are suspending where we had not reached, but where we have covered, it will remain, but by June, we shall have a better way of handling this matter,” he said.

The matter was first raised by Solomon Silwanyi (NRM, Bukooli County Central), who said the evictions have disrupted many livelihoods.

“Since the minister has committed and says that they have suspended the evictions, a letter should be written to the town councils because the evictions are still going on,” he said.

Speaker Anita Among urged the government to exercise caution in implementing such livelihood-altering decisions.

“The trade order is not bad, but government should not use goons to evict. This should be done progressively; make these people understand that they are operating in road reserves, and where we need markets to relocate these people, we put them there,” she said.

Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju questioned what plans are in place to restore businesses that have already been destroyed.

“What happens to lives you have already ruined? Next time you want to restore trade order, can you do it with a human face?” he asked.

Erute County South representative Jonathan Odur welcomed the suspension and urged the government to prioritise consultation before implementing decisions that affect people’s sources of income.

“Everyone wants this country to be orderly, but there was no consultation, and I am happy now that you are going to consult,” Odur said.