The controversial trade order targeting roadside vendors and illegal kiosks is likely to continue across Uganda, despite last week’s announcement by the Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, David Bahati, that government had suspended its enforcement.
Highly placed sources indicate that a Cabinet sitting held Monday resolved that the trade order must be implemented by local governments, reaffirming its status as a decentralized function under the Ministry of Local Government rather than the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
The development suggests that Bahati’s earlier communication to Parliament may not have reflected a fully harmonized government position.
Bahati had told Parliament on Friday, April 24, 2026, that enforcement of the directive had been suspended pending further consultations, following mounting pressure from lawmakers, traders, and religious leaders.
However, insiders now describe that position as premature, noting that the implementing ministry had not formally agreed to halt the exercise.
The trade order, which began in February under the enforcement of the Kampala Capital City Authority and various local governments, triggered widespread evictions of roadside vendors in a bid to restore urban order.
The crackdown quickly sparked public outcry, with many traders losing their livelihoods and lawmakers raising concerns over the manner of enforcement.
Even before the reported suspension, the exercise had already created visible trade disruptions in several urban centers. In some areas, enforcement appeared inconsistent.
For instance, in parts of Mukono Municipality, some roadside containers that had previously been removed were later allowed to return, highlighting what critics describe as selective implementation of the directive.
During last week’s parliamentary debate, Bukooli Central MP, Solomon Silwanyi, warned that continued evictions were worsening economic hardship, despite the minister’s assurance of a pause.
Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, urged a more humane approach, cautioning against forceful evictions and calling for structured relocation of affected traders.
Kira Municipality MP, Ssemujju Nganda, also questioned the government’s plans to restore businesses already destroyed.
Bahati had maintained that the suspension would only apply to areas where enforcement had not yet reached, while previously cleared zones would remain unaffected, a stance that now appears to align more closely with Cabinet’s latest position.
With Cabinet reportedly reaffirming the directive, the latest developments point to a continuation of the trade order, albeit with possible adjustments in implementation.
The situation leaves local governments at the center of enforcement, raising fresh questions about coordination, consistency, and the balancing of urban order with livelihoods.
