Refund our cash, evicted traders tell KCCA

One of the evicted traders at Wandegeya carries away his furniture on Wednesday. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA

What you need to know:

Uncertain future. The traders claim they are unable to pay back bank loans if unless they start afresh.

Kampala.
Traders who were evicted from Wandegeya road reserve by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) law enforcement officials have asked the Authority to refund their licence fees so that they can kick-start their businesses.
On Monday, more than 150 traders were evicted from the road sides of Wandegeya business centre where they had erected stalls and containers.

The traders said they had just paid KCCA their 2014/2015 licence fees. The licences ranges from Shs100,000 to Shs350,000.
“I have been operating from here for the last 10 years. KCCA just came the other week and told us to leave. At least they should have given us a year’s notice. I have nowhere to go and start business afresh,” one of the evictees, Mr Hussein Ssentongo, told Daily Monitor on Tuesday.

“There are houses in Wandegeya that are built in road reserves. But KCCA targeted us,” he added.
Another trader, Mr Charles Kazibwe, said KCCA’s action has left many traders at the peril of financial institutions.
When contacted for a comment, KCCA deputy spokesperson Robert Kalumba said despite operating in an illegal place, the traders ought to pay taxes.

“They should not expect any refund from us,” Mr Kalumba said.
He said the city authority gave the traders a three-months notice to vacate the road reserve.