CSOs call for alternative trade zones in Kampala

A coalition of human rights Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have asked Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to set up affordable alternative trade zones in the city to cater for the street vendors.

Irene Ovonji, the executive director FIDA Uganda said that there should be designated areas in city where vendors can also earn a living.

"The city must accommodate everyone because even the vendors largely contribute to the development of the city in terms of revenue paid," she advised.

Ovonji recommended that the authority planning and legal departments should create trade zones which are accessible to everyone so that even the poor can enjoy the city.

"We should have deliberate policies that can allow the poor people make a living without breaking the law or commit crime," she added.

Ovonji delivered her counsel during a press conference that was discussing the brutality of KCCA law enforcement office in operations at the Human Rights Network- Uganda (HURINET-U) in Ntinda a Kampala suburb on Wednesday.

This comes after an incident last Friday where it was reported that a female vendor Oliva Basemera, 38, a resident of Mengo in Kampala, vending handkerchiefs was allegedly confronted by KCCA enforcement officers and as a result jumped into the Nakivubo channel in a desperate attempt to escape and died instantly.

Ovonji said if there are designated trade zones in the city, this incident would not have taken place.

"We demand that KCCA sensitize the city residents about the bye laws affecting their work and livelihoods," she said.

Annet Bada, a senior legal officer at FIDA Uganda noted the civil society and citizens of Uganda recognize the efforts of KCCA in trying to keep the city clean and appreciate the value of a clean and organized city.

"However, the principles of human rights, and rule of law requires that the process through which this is achieved, respect human dignity, the right to livelihood and sanctity of life of every inhabitant of the city," she said.

She added that the right to equal treatment, non-discrimination and equality before and under the law and right to equal protection of the law are enshrined in Article 21 of the 1995 constitution.

"This should be regardless whether they are poor or rich, female or male, a professional or vendor or political affiliation," she said.

Bada demanded that KCCA should expeditiously compensate the family of Basemera, in recognition of the vicarious liability principle.

"We heard that the KCCA contributed sh5m towards the deceased's burial arrangements but this was not enough. Here we look at work life balance that includes the life expectancy," she explained.

She also asked KCCA to support the justice actors currently pursuing the case against their law enforcement staff until its logical conclusion.

"We recommend that all the law enforcement officers under-go training and tests in observance of the human rights and respect of the person," she said.

Mohammed Ndifuna, HURINET-U boss said as citizens and human rights practitioners, take serious exception to the inhumane and degrading treatment by KCCA law enforcement officers.

Ndifuna advised that respect of human rights and dignity be observed by the enforcement officers when conducting lawful arrest and that security of vendors' property is respected.

"Involvement of local leaders, the affected citizens and related institutions be a pre-requisite to carrying out demolition exercise in order to have participatory process and maintain people's security and dignity," he said.