Across Uganda, there is a sweeping crackdown on street vending that is changing the face of major towns while leaving thousands of small traders uncertain about what is next for their future.

In Kampala, traders seemingly gave up running battles with city authorities. According to KCCA, prior to enforcement, assessments were conducted across the city’s 17 government-owned markets and 69 private markets to determine available space.

Currently, a total of 970 former street vendors have registered for market spaces following the ongoing enforcement operation by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

In Soroti city, vendors that were operating from Container Village along Serere Road, in front of Oligo International Stadium, were evicted, with over 300 containers put down to enforce trade order.

Preliminary information indicates that property from vendors has been confiscated to restore order and organization in business.

According to the Soroti city authorities, sensitization has been taking place before evicting the vendors to ensure they opt for organized trade in organized places.

The authorities have vowed to continue implementing and enforcing order.

Similarly, trade order has been restored in Lira City following enforcement operations that cleared the once crowded streets, parking spaces, and illegal shops by vendors.

However, some traders took the city council to court for not being allocated space at the Lira City Main Market, where the city council opted to handle the case outside court.

The locals raised concerns about the trucks offloading materials on streets, thus congesting the streets. The local residents, therefore, asked authorities to not only deal with vendors but also shop owners, like hardware stores, that are causing congestion.

Additionally, operations have taken place in Kira, where the Kira Municipality Town Clerk, Benon Yiga, issued a statement stopping vendors from operating from the yard along the Kira-Najjera road, ordering them to vacate the place.

According to the statement, any vendor found operating from an unauthorized location would face strict consequences, and as a result, the vendors complied and removed their stalls.

Ivan Mukiibi, a street food vendor that has been operating from the park yard for close to 25 years, expressed his worry about what he will do since his customers have been evicted.

“I have been operating from the park, however, after being advised by the council and seeing what was happening in other areas, we had to vacate. I don’t know what to do next since the place I want to shift to is expensive and has few customers,” he said.

The Mityana Municipal Council Mayor, Faustine Mukanga Lukonge, said that all roads and streets in the area have been cleared, with the exception of kiosk operators, who have been given a grace period, and soon they will be vacating.

Lukonge, however, said that the vendors, especially those operating chip stalls, are evicted during the day but are given a chance to come back and operate their businesses at night under strict guidelines, which they have to follow.

He added that those operating shops have been ordered to put in place garbage bins and toilets to ensure proper hygiene and sanitation in the area.

“To maintain hygiene, each shop or building should have rubbish bins and toilets. We will resume our operation this week, and whoever is found not having the requirements will be charged and their shop closed,” Lukonge added.

Dr. Andrew Gilbert Were, a lecturer and urban planner from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Makerere University, who appeared on a televised debate on March 23rd, 2026, noted that the approach misses a key point.

“Every good government policy must be consultative and inclusive. What the government is doing across the country is a missed opportunity,” he noted.

He warned that evictions without proper engagement risk hurting a young and growing economy.

“If people have to be evicted from the street, it has to be done carefully and consultatively,” Were cautioned.

Were further said that street vending has been adopted by people from villages as a result of rural-urban migration. He added that a policy protecting vendors and avenues to help them should be put in place.

As authorities vow to continue enforcement which began in Kampala city early March 2026, and later stretched across the country, the bigger question that remains is can urban policy strike a balance between order and survival? For many vendors pushed off the streets, the answer will determine whether they are included or left behind.