Enock Ndyamuhakyi | Tayari News
KABALE – Authorities in Kabale Municipality have issued a two-week ultimatum to street vendors and boda boda riders to vacate the central business area or face eviction and demolition of illegal structures starting March 28, 2026.
The directive, announced by Town Clerk Jamiil Kassajja, targets a wide range of informal businesses, including street vendors, hawkers, unregistered mobile traders, unauthorized boda boda stages, and street food sellers operating along major roads.
Kassajja said Wednesday the operation will focus on clearing illegal and temporary structures that have increasingly encroached on road reserves, contributing to congestion and disorder within the municipality.
“We have already identified alternative relocation sites in Mwanjari and Bugongi,” Kassajja noted, urging affected traders to comply voluntarily to support organised urban planning efforts.
According to municipal authorities, the crackdown is part of a broader nationwide government initiative to streamline business operations in urban centres. Kassajja emphasized that the rise in street vending has disrupted traffic flow and undermined designated market spaces, as many traders have abandoned formal trading areas for more visible roadside locations.
The operation will also extend to boda boda riders operating outside designated stages, with officials citing concerns over public safety, traffic congestion, and increasing road accidents.
“We are appealing to everyone to cooperate. This is a national program intended to improve order and planning in our towns,” Kassajja said, warning that enforcement measures will be taken against those who fail to comply.
However, the directive has sparked mixed reactions among traders.Some street vendors have expressed concern over the short notice, saying the eviction could severely disrupt their livelihoods. One vendor, who preferred to remain anonymous, called on authorities to extend the deadline to allow time for preparation and relocation.
“This is our only source of income. Moving suddenly will put us under serious financial pressure,” the vendor said.
On the other hand, traders operating within formal market structures have welcomed the move.
Gloria Komuhangi, a vendor at Kabale Central Market, said street vending has created unfair competition for those paying rent and servicing loans.
“We have responsibilities and costs to meet, yet street vendors sell freely without those burdens,” she said.
Another trader, Alex Muhwezi, echoed similar sentiments, noting that informal roadside businesses have drawn customers away from established markets by offering lower prices.
Municipal officials maintain that the exercise is necessary to restore order, improve safety, and ensure fair business practices across the town.
With the March 28 deadline fast approaching, all eyes are now on how smoothly the transition will be managed and whether affected traders will comply or resist the directive.