KCCA Demolishes Illegal Kiosks in Kampala Crackdown, Cites 4,000 Vacant Market Stalls

KAMPALA — Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) enforcement teams, backed by police, demolished dozens of illegal roadside kiosks and structures overnight into Friday, escalating a citywide crackdown aimed at restoring order in the capital’s central business district.

The operation followed the expiry of a two-week ultimatum issued to street vendors, boda boda operators and informal taxi drivers accused of obstructing walkways, road reserves and drainage channels.

By dawn, several major streets in downtown Kampala had been cleared of makeshift stalls and kiosks, with no major clashes reported between authorities and traders.

KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki defended the move, saying it was necessary to improve pedestrian safety, sanitation and urban mobility.

“This exercise is about restoring order, protecting pedestrians and ensuring that drainage channels are not blocked,” Buzeki said in a statement. “We cannot allow the city to descend into chaos.”

City officials argue that the proliferation of illegal structures has worsened flooding during heavy rains, narrowed road space and increased the risk of accidents, particularly for pedestrians forced onto busy roads.

As part of the enforcement strategy, KCCA says it has made over 4,000 vacant stalls available in gazetted markets across the city on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, the authority has secured 1,980 market spaces outside Kampala to absorb vendors affected by the directive.

KCCA currently manages 17 public markets within the city and oversees 69 privately owned markets. According to the authority, available trading spaces remain underutilised despite repeated calls for vendors to relocate voluntarily.

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“No one should claim there is no space. Markets are available both within and outside the city,” Buzeki emphasised.

The directive to vacate streets and road reserves was issued on February 5, citing concerns over congestion, poor waste management and public health risks. Authorities say enforcement will continue in phases to ensure full compliance.

While some vendors have raised concerns about reduced customer traffic in formal markets and the potential loss of daily income, city leaders insist that long-term urban planning and safety must take precedence.

The latest operation marks one of the most decisive enforcement drives in recent years, signalling KCCA’s renewed push to formalise trade and decongest Uganda’s fast-growing capital.