The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya, has cautioned enforcement officers against abusing their authority while implementing the Trade Order, warning that such actions undermine the policy’s intended purpose.
Speaking during a consultative meeting held on Thursday at the Ministry headquarters with traders’ representatives led by John Kabanda, president of the Federation of Uganda Traders Association (FUTA), Kumumanya said he had received reports of inhumane enforcement practices in some areas. These include forceful evictions, confiscation of goods, and demolition of business structures without proper notice.
He stressed that enforcement must be carried out in a fair and humane manner, noting that the concern is not the Trade Order policy itself but how it is being implemented. The meeting also reviewed the progress of the ongoing operations and sought to harmonize implementation across local governments.
Kumumanya emphasized that the Trade Order aims to restore order, improve sanitation, ease traffic flow, and ensure that business activities are conducted in gazetted and approved trading areas in line with the law.
He assured traders that government is committed to establishing adequate trading spaces so that affected vendors can resume their businesses as soon as possible. He added that efforts are ongoing to improve implementation of the Trade Order in cities, municipalities, and town councils, while supporting vendors with suitable alternative locations.
CUE IN KUMUMANYA….ON THE MATTER ….ENG//
Meanwhile, David Nuwabine, spokesperson for the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), who represented the Executive Director, told the meeting that licensed traders in Kampala have increased from 12,536 to over 20,000 since the exercise began in February 2026. He said this reflects the policy’s positive impact in formalizing businesses and improving urban management.
Kumumanya announced that a follow-up meeting will be held in two weeks to provide feedback on agreed positions after further consultations with stakeholders. He also revealed plans for nationwide sensitization campaigns and community barazas to help traders better understand the policy.
CUE IN KUMUMANYA….ON RESOLUTIONS….ENG//
