Kamya orders city vendors off streets

PIC: Minister for Kampala Betty Kamya addressing journalists during a press conference  at the Uganda media center in Kampala on November 1 2018 . (Photo by Ivan Kabuye).

STREET VENDORS

KAMPALA-The minister in charge of Kampala, Beti Kamya, has ordered vendors and hawkers off the streets of Kampala and directed city authorities to apprehend offenders.

“The public has a duty to abide by the set regulations. We cannot have a well-organised city with everybody ignoring laws.

KCCA law enforcement team is directed to scale-up law enforcement immediately,”Kamya ordered. 

 Vendors selling their merchandise. (File photo)

Addressing a news conference on Thursday at Uganda Media Centre, Kamya wondered why the general public in the city continues to support the illegal activities of vendors and hawkers by continuing to buy their merchandise inspite having knowledge that this practice is condemned by the law.

Flanked by city physical planning director, Moses Atwine, KCCA spokesperson, Peter Kaujju and other officials, Kamya also directed for the demolition of buildings under construction in the city without construction permits.

According to Atwine, over 500 notices have been issued to construction sites without construction permits.

The minister noted that in the existence of ample enabling legislation on development control and trade order, Kampala continues to experience mushrooming unplanned developments and getting out of control; and almost all public spaces being taken up as trade premises thereby inhibiting mobility in the city.

Kamya warned political leaders against reluctance to support enforcement action as this is perceived as an attempt to erode their political support. This, she said has resulted in politicians becoming hostile and undermining enforcement operations.

Minister for Kampala Betty Kamya talking to a journalist after a press confrence at the Uganda media center in Kampala. (Photo by Ivan Kabuye).

Section 72 of the Public Health Act states that the local authority (KCCA) has the power to require removal of illegal structures upon notice to them and if they neglect or refuse to comply with the commands in the notice then the removal can be done by KCCA.

Kampala City Council (Maintenance of Law and Order) Ordinance, 2006 – which provides that a person shall not ply his or her trade on any pavement, footway, street, unoccupied land, or other public space.

Kamya  noted that in the existence of ample enabling legislation on development control and trade order, Kampala continues to experience mushrooming unplanned developments  getting out of control; and almost all public spaces being taken up as trade premises thereby inhibiting mobility in the city.

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