Government plans relocation package for city vendors

Vendors selling their merchandise on one of Kampala streets recently. File photo

What you need to know:

  • There are over 1,900 vendors within the centre of Kampala according to reports.
  • Benny Namugwanya, the State Minister for Kampala noted that several vendors find themselves on the streets because they cannot afford rent for permanent stalls in the designated markets and such support would give them a firm foundation to get off the streets.

Government is finalizing an arrangement, through which street vendors will be granted financial support to help them settle in gazetted market places, Beti Kamya, the Minister in charge of Kampala has said.

Kamya on Saturday said president Museveni has instructed the Minister of State for Micro finance, the Ministry of finance, and officials from National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) to meet the vendors and mobilize resources towards this move.

The move is an incentive to get vendors off the streets of Kampala and encourage them to settle in designated markets while supporting their business to grow. Kamya told a press conference at her office in Kampala today that a detailed budget for the initiative is being developed.

She equally encouraged vendors to form organized groups of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies through which their businesses can be supported.

Benny Namugwanya, the State Minister for Kampala noted that several vendors find themselves on the streets because they cannot afford rent for permanent stalls in the designated markets and such support would give them a firm foundation to get off the streets.

Early this week, Kamya ordered that all vendors should vacate the streets with immediate effect, to help develop a clean and organized city. The minister has also urged market managers to reduce the prices to accommodate the vendors.

There are over 1,900 vendors within the centre of Kampala according to reports.