KCCA councillors gazette some roads for street vendors

KAMPALA- The restoration of trade order in the city went a notch higher on Monday, with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Councillors unanimously endorsing to have some city roads gazzetted to enable street vendors operate during evening hours.

The resolution was made in presence of street vendors, who packed the gallery to witness how their fate would be determined in the meeting.

The councillors have allocated Nakivubo Mews, Nakivubo Road, Allen Road and Kafumbe Mukasa Road by the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.

The Monday meeting comes after Kampala Minister Beti Olive Kamya’s directive, to have all street vendors evicted from the city, a move she said, would restore sanity in the city.

However, Ms Kamya’s directive was opposed by Mr Lukwago and other city leaders, who accused her of issuing a directive without consulting the KCCA political wing on how to handle the matter.

For two weeks, there has been a

Lukwago tells off Kamya over eviction of vendors

The minister’s proclamations followed threats by shop owners, citing high taxes and rent overheads, said the practice of vendors staging in front of their shops and selling merchandise at lower costs amounted to unfair competition

The traders under the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) accused street vendors of creating disorder in the city.

Although Ms Kamya had been invited to attend yesterday’s meeting, she snubbed it and instead went to a local television station to explain that vendors who would resist moving, would be arrested.

 Her deputy, Ms Benny Namugwanya was also on another local TV station to re-echo the government directive.

KCCA executive director Jennifer Musisi didn’t attend the council meeting but was represented by her deputy, Ms Judith Tukahiirwa.

As the meeting at City Hall was progressing, KCCA law enforcement officers were joined by police to sweep vendors off the streets.

Mr Lukwago told the council meeting that it was unfair for the minister to issue a directive, which he said, would affect ordinary people who also want to earn a living in the city.

“As a leader who was elected by these same people, I don’t subscribe to this school of thought because they need our help. I don’t support street vending but let us gazette some places to allow these people operate in the evening. If allowed, they will be given permits and start paying taxes,” Mr Lukwago said.

But Mr Bruhan Byaruhanga, the Kyambogo University Councillor, opposed Mr Lukwago’s submission, insisting that the minister has powers according to Section 72 (2) of the KCCA Act to make policies for the city.

“The minister’s directive was a suggestion by government and as this honourable house must respect it. If we are to help street vendors, let them go and occupy the spaces in Wandegeya and Usafi markets since the rental charges have been reduced,” he said.

His submission was, however, ignored by the majority of councillors.

Nakawa Councillor Kennedy Okello said that while as the KCCA council votes to , other divisions should be consider allowing street vending on some of the roads.

 “The KCCA technical team must respect the decisions made by the political wing because we all want to see the city develop and that’s why we are fighting for the ordinary people. If the minister is working against our ideas, it means she doesn’t want development in the city,” he said.

The councillor representing people with disabilities Mr Rashid Buwembo revealed that some traders give merchandise to street vendors.

 He said that by allocating them some places, it would create a fair situation for both parties to operate without interference.

Mr Lukwago said minutes from the council’s meeting gazetting certain roads for street vendors would be submitted to the minister and the technical team who would guide KCCA to handle the matter.

However, Ms Musisi, in her October 17 letter about the proposal by the political wing to have evening markets, she expressed fear arguing that the arrangement would run out of control.

 “…it’s our considered view that government needs to make an immediate pronouncement on what kind of interim resettlement action plan is appropriate for the street vendors. The KCCA’s attempts to clampdown on street vending have elicited a backlash from certain sections of the public and politicians,” Ms Musisi’s letter reads in part.

 Kampala deputy Resident City Commissioner Ms Sarah Bananuka, who is the president’s representative in the city said the president doesn’t support street vending but wants vendors to be catered for.

“It’s KCCA that has failed to plan for these vendors because the president asked them to do so. Street vending affects trade order in the city but let the technical team come up with measures,” she said.

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