AI Image of Breastfeeding Vendor Sparks Heated Debate on Kampala Evictions

An emotionally charged image shared online by outspoken businessman Frank Gashumba has sparked a nationwide conversation in Kampala, not because it was real, but because of what it represents.

The image, which depicted a street vendor breastfeeding her child as her kiosk was being forcefully removed, quickly went viral on Saturday. Gashumba appealed to the public to help identify and support the woman, describing the scene as heartbreaking. However, social media users soon flagged inconsistencies, such as oddly shaped cans defying gravity and a foreign license plate, confirming the image had been generated using artificial intelligence.

Despite being debunked, the image struck a deep chord with many Ugandans, amplifying an already heated debate about the ongoing eviction of informal traders from the capital’s streets.

Since late February 2026, city authorities have intensified operations to clear sidewalks and road reserves, targeting kiosks and roadside vendors in a bid to restore order and improve urban mobility. The crackdown has left many traders—particularly women, struggling to survive after losing their primary sources of income. In one widely cited case, a mother of five was reportedly left destitute after her stall was seized.

Online, reactions have been sharply divided. Some users called for caution against misinformation, emphasizing the dangers of spreading AI-generated content as fact.

“FACT CHECK: This is an AI generated photo. People shouldn’t keep insinuating it represents real events in Uganda. Please disregard!” wrote Gideon Nova Kwikiriza on X.

FACT CHECK:

This is an AI generated photo. People shouldn’t stop insinuating that’s it’s a photo that represents real events in Uganda.

Please disregard! pic.twitter.com/cUiUMjU5lk

— Gideon Nova Kwikiriza (@KwikirizaNova) April 19, 2026

Others, however, argued that the image resonated because it mirrored lived realities. Political analyst Yusuf Serunkuma criticized the broader socio-economic conditions behind the evictions.

“These kiosks are not an anomaly to the city, but a product of the economy… This is us: a makeshift country,” he posted, linking the issue to long-standing structural challenges.

This picture!

After "protecting their gains"

These kiosks are not an anomaly to the city, but a product of the economy Museveni has presided over. This is us: a makeshift country.

These are the gains.

Shame on you, people. Amaalo, trying to be NY without a foundation. pic.twitter.com/eoBgT7scHl

— Yusuf Serunkuma🌹 (@YusufSerunkuma) April 19, 2026

The incident has reignited questions about the balance between urban planning and economic survival. While authorities maintain that clearing illegal structures is necessary for a modern city, critics argue that the approach lacks compassion and fails to address the root causes driving citizens into informal trade.

Ultimately, though fabricated, the viral image has exposed a very real tension in Kampala, between the vision of a cleaner, more organized city and the daily struggles of those who depend on its streets to survive.