It was a moment of pure joy and ululations at Kololo Independence Grounds on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, as President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni injected a staggering Shs 300 million cash windfall to support hundreds of jubilant small scale street hawkers operating on Kampala’s bustling streets.
In scenes described by onlookers as “unforgettable,” street vendors sang, danced, and ululated as each received Shs 100,000 in cash, plus full payment for the merchandise they brought to the event.
The cash bonanza is part of an aggressive Presidential initiative aimed at lifting informal traders out of poverty and formally integrating them into the money economy.
Delivering the funds on behalf of the President, State House Comptroller Jane Barekye made it clear that no one will be left behind under Museveni’s leadership.
“The President is determined to reach even the last person in the money economy. That’s why he’s supporting hawkers directly,” she declared, amid thunderous applause.
Barekye said the President will personally monitor the impact of the initiative and decide on further interventions.
Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, used the opportunity to campaign directly for the ruling NRM, reminding hawkers of the 2026 general elections.
“President Museveni will be on the ballot in 2026. Where you see a bus, tick!” she urged. “Others want to chase you from Kampala, but Museveni says you belong here.”
Hajjat Kabanda also urged hawkers to uphold city cleanliness and discipline, advising them to carry polythene bags to manage waste and avoid littering.
“Don’t step on green spaces, don’t dump banana peels in the drainage. Let’s prove we can keep the city clean as we work,” she said.
She further encouraged vendors to enroll in other state-backed programs like Emyooga, PDM, and Presidential Skilling Centers.
Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Mobilization Moses Byaruhanga praised the hawkers’ resilience and organization, saying it is what enabled the President to take notice.
“The President asked how you survive on these streets. Through your leaders, we understood your struggles. You will not be abandoned,” Byaruhanga assured.
He dismissed criticism that supporting hawkers could lead to more unregulated vending in the city.
“We cannot leave them to die on the streets because we’re scared more may come. KCCA has its rules, yes but these are Ugandans trying to survive,” he said.
The gathering, attended by Kampala Central Mayor Salim Uhuru, Presidential Advisor Hajjat Sarah Kanyike, and several NRM division chairpersons, clearly doubled as a political mobilization strategy, with repeated calls for vendors to rally behind Museveni and NRM in the 2026 elections.
“Museveni sees your struggle. That’s why he gives you money instead of chasing you away. In 2026, return the favor,” Mayor Uhuru said.
As the event closed, some hawkers were seen weeping with joy, clinging to envelopes and merchandise receipts, saying it was the first time they felt truly recognized by the country’s top leadership.
