Two female street vendors, Esther Apio and Hamida Nakayaga, have filed a lawsuit against Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and law enforcement officers Isaac Kato and Henry Mutebi for inhuman treatment during operations. The vendors, represented by lawyers Yasin Ssentumbwe and Simon Peter Esomu, allege that male enforcement officers from KCCA have not only confiscated their merchandise but also subjected them to undignified arrests.
The vendors claim that the male officers have undressed them, torn their clothes, assaulted them, held their private parts, and dragged them to the police, where they face multiple charges. Nakayaga, who was allegedly assaulted in September 2022, was accompanied by Apio, claiming to have been maimed by KCCA enforcement officers in August the previous year.
Through their lawyers, the vendors seek to compel KCCA to respect their guaranteed human rights to privacy, dignity, and work. They also seek compensation for the violation of their rights and permanent injuries caused.
The evidence before the court details instances of physical abuse by law enforcement officers, including beating, slapping, kicking, and violence against Nakayaga. The vendors argue that the use of male officers in arresting female vendors threatens their rights to equal dignity, and the confiscation of their property violates their rights to property.
The vendors claim that KCCA’s officers have systematically targeted women street vendors with harassment, gender-based violence, and torture based on their vulnerability due to gender, economic standing, and the nature of their trade.
They argue for accountability and immediate steps to rectify the situation, ensuring the rights and safety of all women street vendors are protected by national and international standards.
The vendors state that the emotional trauma from the incidents has impacted their daily lives, causing anxiety and fear whenever they encounter law enforcement officers. They have also reported financial losses in daily earnings.
The case is yet to be allocated to a judge, who will summon the enforcement officers and KCCA, fixing the case for hearing.
In 2019, KCCA drafted a bill for a Street Trade Ordinance to regulate street vending. The bill, still pending, proposes licensing and uniforms for street vendors, aiming to bring order to street vending.
