Minister of Works and Transport, Gen Katumba Wamala, has instructed Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to swiftly evict vendors operating businesses along city roadsides. Gen Katumba emphasized that such activities are illegal, citing the Roads Act, 2019, which stipulates penalties for carrying out business activities on road shoulders, sidewalks, or reserves.
Addressing journalists in Kampala, Gen Katumba stated, “In accordance with Section 65(1)(e) of the Roads Act, 2019, a person who carries out a business activity on the shoulder, sidewalk, or road reserve of a public road commits an offence.” Offenders could face fines or imprisonment.
The minister urged KCCA and UNRA to use their enforcement teams or traffic police as needed to implement the Roads Act. He highlighted the negative impact of illegal roadside businesses on traffic flow, pedestrian movement, and road safety.
Vendors previously evicted ahead of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and G77+ China summits were warned against returning to roadside operations. Gen Katumba stated that these illegal activities cause disruptions, conflicts, and traffic jams.
David Luyimbazi, deputy director of KCCA, affirmed the authority’s commitment to enforcing the minister’s directive. Operations to remove illegal businesses on city roads, drainage channels, and other unauthorized areas will commence immediately.
Luyimbazi also announced plans to mark all 445 boda-boda stages in the capital to streamline the motorcycle taxi business in Kampala. Following the NAM and G77+ China summits, around 3,000 businesses and numerous boda-boda stages were evicted from major roads used by summit delegates.
