KCCA launches a crackdown on street vendors

Written by: 
Lusungu E. Mwaluvinga

KAMPALA – Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) management on Monday launched a crackdown on street vending and abuse of traffic laws.

The authorities say such activities have suffocated the businesses and normal traffic.

Speaking to a local television station on Monday morning, Mr. Peter Kawujju, the KCCA spokesperson confirmed the operation saying that street vendors and any other unlawful trading have returned from the time the outgoing executive director Jennifer Musisi announced that she was resigning.

KCCA, in a statement last Friday, October 2 noted that “there has been a resurgence of violation of regulations including street vending, indiscriminate parking by taxis in non-gazette areas and abuse of traffic guidelines by motorists.”

Kawujju said such illegal activities lead to congestion on the street pavements, obstruction of traffic and other associated vices and vowed a crackdown on the perpetrators.

“Cities and towns world over have order and regulations of how people should live. We have put up facilities to settle people,” Kawujju said.

(Courtsy Photo)

But, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago who was also speaking to the same station lashed out to city authorities including Kampala Minister Betty Kamya saying “what they are calling a lawful operation is not correct. Street vending is a lawful practice but should be regulated. You cannot evict everyone enormously.”

Lukwago went ahead to say that evicting [vendors] cannot be the solution to Kampala’s escalating problems including reducing space for businesses.