Mukono street vendors given 30 days to vacate road reserves

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Street vendors and businesses operating within road reserves in Mukono district have been given a grace period of one month to vacate as per a directive by the municipality council.

The decision was made during a recent council meeting where councillors raised concerns about congestion and obstruction of public roads caused by small-scale businesses set up along road reserves.

The development is similar to what is happening in other areas such as Kampala, Jinja and Mbale.

Some of the street Vendors in Mukono town who are going to be affected by the directive. (Photo by Joanita Nakatte)

Those who will be most affected by the directive are vendors operating along Wantoni Road, Kayunga-Bugerere Road and Bukerere in Goma division.

Fred Ssebaana, who has sold milk and bread along Kayunga-Bugerere Road for around eight years, claimed that the municipality is evicting them without offering them an alternative.

Another vendor, Sarah Babirye, said that the same street has been her major source of income, which has enabled her to provide for her two children.

In the wake of the order to leave the streets, some vendors have asked for more time to vacate, while others requested the council to allow them work from 6pm until midnight. 

'Serious repercussions'

Rogers Bazannya, the deputy speaker of Mukono Municipality, said the move is intended to restore order, improve road safety, and ensure smooth movement of both pedestrians and motorists within the municipality. 

"We have been having rampant road accidents, more so in Wantoni, where trucks veer off roads and kill roadside vendors and bystanders as well," he said.

"We are also trying to put the trade order in action, where taxis will all go to the park, no motorbikes parking unnecessarily by the roads and strictly no vendors by the roadside.

"Failure to adhere to our rules will lead to serious repercussions," said Bazannya.

The municipality town clerk, Francis Byabagambi, said preparations to allocate a market for the evicted vendors are underway.

He also cautioned people with buildings and shelters in road reserves to forge ways of getting rid of them.

Rashid Lubwama, the chairman of the Kayunga-Bugerere roadside vendors, urged his colleagues to comply with the directive to avoid forceful evictions once the deadline has expired.

He said the resolution is part of broader efforts aimed at improving urban planning and maintaining a clean and organised town.