Silenced markets: Street traders count losses after city evictions

dawn, the usual bustle of business across Uganda’s blossoming cities and towns is missing.

Where voices once competed with the clatter of weighing scales and the bargaining cries of customers, there is now an edgy silence.

Piles of empty wooden stalls still lie broken, some reduced to splinters. For many traders, this is not just the loss of a workplace — it is the collapse of their livelihood.

“Since my kiosk was dismantled on April 9, I have remained stuck. I don’t know where to start from,” says Ms Milly Oyenya, who used to sell produce along the Arua-Nebbi road in Arua City.

“My life has never been the same. I used to get money from the sales for feeding, paying school fees, rent and for meeting extra needs. It is no more. It is like they have cut a vein that transports blood in my body,” she said, her voice heavy with worry.

She has now moved her items home because relocation is expensive. “I could earn at least Shs30,000 to 60,000 in a day, especially when they also buy clothes from my small kiosk. This income has been cut to zero,” she added.

Across towns and cities, the story is no different. Dozens of traders who once depended on small stalls were pushed out in recent eviction exercises aimed at decongesting cities and enforcing the trade order.

This situation is also faced by Ms Susan Nagobi, who operated a kiosk selling soft drinks and food in Jinja. She was forced to pack her stock at home in Bugembe.

“Some of my regular customers who rely on me daily went hungry for days because many street food vendors were affected. Some would call me and ask me to bring items like sodas and water to their workplaces as they tried to find alternative solutions,” Ms. Nagobi said.

While authorities argue that such actions are necessary for urban planning and sanitation, the human toll is becoming increasingly visible.

At Nebbi market square, Ms Maureen Acen, a salon operator, said: “Where we are told to shift our kiosks has limited space and can’t accommodate all the kiosks. Besides, the location has no electricity connections, rendering the place unsuitable for salon business.”

Acen noted that many salon operators affected by the trade order have left the business and shifted to other enterprises in Nebbi main market.

“The municipal authorities have rendered many to begging. The enforcement was rushed because many people here are low-income earners. This was a misplaced policy,” she said.

The bitterness left

Without income, paying school fees has become impossible. For many families, the eviction has triggered a chain reaction. Rent arrears are piling up, meals are being skipped, and healthcare has become a luxury.

Many used to operate small food stalls. Local leaders acknowledge the dilemma but say they are now planning for idle land within town centers.

The senior law enforcement officer in Nebbi Municipality, Mr Adris Cakuru, said: “Now that we are done with the removal of kiosks within the business town center, the next step is to start with idle land within Nebbi main business town center and they have been given up to December 31 to start developing their land.”

Just like in Namutumba Town Council, vendors say they now operate in open spaces without shelters, leaving their merchandise exposed to rain and often damaged when it gets soaked.

According to Faizo Kayongo, the chairperson of vendors at Namutumba Central Market, the space allocated to them at the taxi park is too small to adequately accommodate all traders.

“Some vendors are still operating on verandas because they have nowhere else to work from,” Faizo said.

He added that some traders have been forced to close their businesses because they are unable to afford annual rent charges of Shs5 million.

Also in the frying pan is Ms. Justine Nairuba, a vendor, who said since she started operating in the taxi park three weeks ago, she has only managed to make Shs30,000.

“I sell old clothes and I used to make about Shs1 million on the street in a month. Now I am only selling Shs30,000 in a period of three weeks. I have a loan of Shs8 million, so how am I going to repay it with interest and also pay school fees when I am earning so little?” she said.

Turned beggars?

Mr Ismail Mpagi, who previously dealt in spare parts along Obote Way in Jinja City, says he was forced to turn to street begging after his kiosk was demolished during the enforcement of the trade order.

“I turned to the streets to beg from friends just to survive after my business was shut down during the evictions,” Mr Mpagi said.

Mr Mpagi said the government should compensate those who incurred losses and provide a suitable place where they can resettle and continue their businesses.

The situation is biting Ms Sharon Nangobi too, a former street vendor in Jinja City, who said since her eviction, she lost her only source of income and now survives on casual work that is not guaranteed.

“Life has become very hard without a fixed place of work,” Ms Nangobi said.

Ms Nangobi appeals to the government and local authorities to speed up resettlement plans so that affected traders can regain their source of income.

Left with emotional stress

Some traders have attempted to relocate to designated markets, but high rent fees and limited space make it difficult. Others have resorted to hawking on the streets, risking arrest and confiscation of their goods.

The emotional strain is also taking a toll. Ms Salima Lekuru, a resident of Oli B Cell in Arua City, is worried about the future of her marriage.

“My husband and I argue all the time now about how to feed and care for the family,” she confesses. “Sometimes we sleep without eating. We are always thinking about tomorrow. I am not sure of my marriage now.”

Commentators warn that without inclusive planning, such evictions may deepen urban poverty. They argue that informal traders remain important for the urban economy.

What next?

Some families are beginning to rethink their dependence on a single income source. Those with money are now adding mobile money services, selling from home compounds and selling under verandahs.

Ms Aisha Nalubega, a resident of Kakoba in Mbarara City, who operated a hotel business, said they were ambushed by city council enforcement operations.

“It was a shock to most of us. Remember some of us use loans. I had to first rest for two weeks at home but I later got another loan to rent a small house to continue with my hotel business.”

Mr Edgar Mwesigye, who was dealing in a kiosk boutique business in Kasingyengye, said: "I have opted to advertise and market my business on social media, TikTok and WhatsApp statuses. I am able to get a few customers.”

Return to the streets?

In Fort Portal City, the evicted traders are slowly finding their way back into some of the restricted areas, raising concerns about the sustainability of the enforcement exercise.

Despite the city authorities’ directive, some street vendors dealing in clothes, mobile money services, and transport operations have been seen returning to their former locations. However, key areas such as roundabouts and major roads largely remain clear during the day but busy in the evenings.

Mr Didas Muhanguzi, the Central Division City Clerk, had earlier explained that before the eviction exercise commenced, designated relocation areas were identified. Traders without alternative spaces were advised to rent shops or buildings to continue their businesses.

According to city authorities, vendors who were operating at the roundabout were relocated to Kibogo Road. Similarly, in Kisenyi along Bwamba Road, roadside vendors were moved to a site opposite Fuelex Station, and daytime compliance has largely been maintained.

However, along Bwamba Road, some traders, particularly food vendors, have resorted to operating at night from building corridors and verandas, indicating ongoing challenges in enforcement.

Some traders say the relocation has significantly disrupted their businesses. Mr James Businge, a shoe repairer who previously operated near the roundabout on Bwamba Road, said he was forced to rent a room due to the lack of a clearly allocated workspace.

“The city did not provide us with a specific place to work. I decided to rent a room, but I lost most of my customers, especially those who used to come in the morning for shoe polishing. I am now struggling to build a new customer base,” he said.

Mr John Musinguzi, a chapati vendor who operated along Kampala Road near Mpanga Market, shared similar frustrations. He said traders were relocated to a site opposite the market near containers, but the new location has limited customer flow.

The Kabale Municipality Deputy Town Clerk, Mr Eric Sunday, said: “We have advised the affected traders to get working space in the Central Market, Owino Market, Bugongi Market and Mwanjari business center.”

Kisoro is quiet

The Kisoro Municipal Council Mayor, Mr. Richard Ndyana, said they have not implemented the trade order because they are still sensitizing the traders and consulting other stakeholders.

“We thought it wise to strengthen sensitization and thorough consultations with all the stakeholders before implementation. We do not have space to allocate the traders that will be affected,” Mr. Ndyana said.

Living a tough life

Ms Caroline Nabatanzi, a resident of St. Kagwa in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, expressed despair over the loss of her business. "My children are in school and need fees. We have loans and PDM money but nowhere to invest it. Landlords are going to chase us out," she lamented.

What were the relocation plans?

The Mbarara City Clerk, Ms Justine Barekye, said: "Most of those who were evicted from streets came to the city commercial office, got letters and were allocated spaces in some of the markets around. Some went to Central Market, Lugazi Market, Kakoba, Kiyanja, Ruti and Biharwe.”

She noted that though some hesitated and went back to the streets, operations have been continuous. “Those who lament that they had loans should have followed the council guidelines. Do you operate business illegally because you have loans? Even those who are coming up with illegal structures, we are coming for them," she warned.

Kaliro Assistant Resident District Commissioner, Mr Rogers Kiduma, revealed that part of the mayor’s gardens has been secured to resettle the evicted traders.

He said the decision was reached during a meeting attended by officials from the Town Clerk’s office, the Chief Administrative Officer, and the Resident District Commissioner’s office, noting that vendors are an important source of revenue in the area.

“We realized that these vendors are still needed by the council because they pay taxes that fund local projects, so we decided to find an alternative place for them,” Mr. Kiduma said.

The Gulu City Clerk, Mr Innocent Ahimbisibwe, stated that there are designated markets and business spaces available for traders.

Ahimbisibwe emphasised that the eviction received support from political leaders and property owners, many of whom expect the exercise to spur urban development and attract formal business investments.

To prevent a return of illegal street vending, the city plans to recruit at least 20 additional law enforcement officers who will be deployed for continuous surveillance.

“We must ensure that people do not bring back these kiosks and containers,” Ahimbisibwe stressed.

The Jinja Central Market

Traders Association Chairperson, Mr. Henry Mujimba, said they had expected that all traders who previously operated kiosks on the streets would occupy the empty stalls in the market, but many of those stalls remain unoccupied.

“We have many stalls in the market, but most of the evicted traders are now operating outside Jinja Central Market, which was constructed by the government,” he said.

Is there hope in the Minister's suspension? With many counting losses, during a plenary on Friday, the State Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Mr. David Bahati, announced the suspension of the trade order to pave way for further consultations.

He said this would allow a more orderly transition of traders into formal markets. “We have listened to the concerns of the people and the representatives in this House,” Bahati told MPs.

But Mr. Herbert Twesige, a clothes vendor in Fort Portal City, questioned the legality and fairness of the enforcement, especially following reports that the government had halted further implementation of the trade order.

“We heard the Minister announcing the suspension. Does that mean what was being done was illegal? We have already lost our goods. Will the government compensate us? There should have been consultations before enforcing the directive,” he said.

Background

According to a March 10 letter issued by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Ben Kumamanya, the trade order included removal of all campaign posters displayed in local governments, clean marketplaces after every market day, clean trading spaces, paint buildings, pave frontages, provide security and dustbins.

The order also empowers cities and other local governments to streamline public transport operations.

For now, that chance remains uncertain, and for many families, life continues in limbo — caught between policy and survival, hope and hardship.