April 29, 2026
Business News Trending

Kabale: Leaders explain delay in trade order act implementation, outline plan for orderly evictions.

Enock Ndyamuhakyi | Tayari News

KABALE – Leaders in Kabale Municipality have explained the delay in implementing the Trade Order Act, assuring residents that the process is being handled cautiously to ensure order, fairness, and proper planning.

The clarification followed a high-level stakeholders’ meeting that brought together municipal leaders and officials from the Office of the Resident District Commissioner to assess the situation and develop a structured approach toward enforcement of the law.

The meeting, held at the Kabale Municipal Council offices, focused on identifying various categories of businesses operating illegally within the municipality and designing a clear roadmap for their eviction and relocation.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Kabale Municipality Mayor Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha said the Trade Order Act was enacted by the Parliament of Uganda to promote organized urbanization and improve order in municipalities and cities across the country.

Watch the story here:

“The objective of this law is to ensure that our towns are well planned, clean, and organized in a way that supports development,” Byamugisha said.

He explained that the planned enforcement will target businesses operating in unauthorized areas, including street vendors, timber operators, kiosks, and traders occupying road reserves. He added that authorities will also address buildings constructed without approved plans, old structures lacking proper sanitary facilities, and poorly maintained premises that compromise the town’s appearance and public health standards.

“We are not only looking at street vendors but also other illegal structures and businesses that do not meet the required standards. All these must be addressed if we are to achieve a well-planned municipality,” he noted.

Despite the planned enforcement, the mayor emphasized that the process will not be abrupt, as the municipality is prioritizing proper planning and engagement with affected stakeholders.

“This is not just about eviction. It is about proper planning. We are preparing gazetted markets where these traders will be relocated,” he said.

Byamugisha revealed that teams have already been deployed to sensitize vendors about the upcoming exercise and give them adequate time to prepare.

“We have given our teams one week to engage with the vendors and explain the process so that they understand what is coming,” he added.

He further noted that stakeholders will first inspect the designated relocation sites to ensure they are ready to accommodate traders before any evictions take place.

“A final meeting has been scheduled for April 21, 2026, to harmonize all plans before implementation begins. We want this process to be humane, orderly, and free from unnecessary force,” Byamugisha emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Kabale Resident District Commissioner, Godfrey Katamba, said the meeting was intended to avoid the mistakes witnessed in other districts where enforcement was rushed and poorly coordinated.

“We have learned lessons from other areas. That is why we are taking time to plan carefully so that we do not repeat the same mistakes,” Katamba said.

He acknowledged that Kabale Municipality may be behind schedule compared to other urban centers that have already implemented the Trade Order Act, but defended the delay as necessary.

“Yes, we may appear to be behind, but we prefer a slow but sure approach that guarantees order and minimizes losses,” he explained.

Katamba stressed the importance of engaging traders and ensuring that alternative spaces are available before enforcement begins.

“We want to raise awareness, prepare the people, and provide proper relocation areas before we start enforcement. This is about creating order, not punishing citizens,” he added.

The Deputy Town Clerk, Erick Sunday, confirmed that the Trade Order Act will be implemented in line with directives from the Ministry of Local Government.

He said the municipality has already embarked on public sensitization campaigns to inform residents about the law and its implications.

“We have started sensitizing the public so that everyone understands the importance of this exercise and prepares accordingly,” Sunday noted.

The planned implementation of the Trade Order Act is expected to significantly reshape the business environment in Kabale Municipality by reducing congestion, improving sanitation, and enhancing the overall urban outlook.

However, leaders insist that the success of the initiative will depend on cooperation between authorities and the public, particularly traders who will be directly affected by the changes.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *