By Sylvia and Kaboha
Street vendors operating in various parts of Fort Portal, including Mpanga, Kabundaire, and Kisenyi, have called on city authorities to first gazette designated working areas before enforcing evictions from the streets.
The appeal follows a directive from the Government of Uganda ordering the eviction of street vendors from cities and municipalities across the country in an effort to restore trade order and improve urban management.
Vendors dealing in food, clothing, and mobile money services say they are not opposed to the directive but want the Fort Portal City Authority to provide clear and officially designated areas where they can operate before they are removed from the streets.
Some vendors have criticized the city leadership, led by the City Clerk and the Mayor, for allegedly failing to engage them prior to the eviction exercise.
Marion, a food vendor who sells chips near Mpanga Market, said vendors had previously been operating inside the market before they were advised to move outside due to fears that cooking activities could pose a fire risk. She said the recent enforcement operation caught them by surprise.
“We were asked to move out of the market earlier, but today enforcement officers came and chased us away without telling us where we should go,” she said.
Several vendors have also requested that city authorities use local radio stations to clearly communicate the implementation of the directive and specify which traders are permitted to operate in certain areas.
Meanwhile, Stephen Sabit, chairperson of vendors at Mpanga Market, said the eviction exercise appeared rushed and called for dialogue between vendors and the city authority to identify alternative locations.
Sabit noted that while some stalls in Mpanga Market remain unoccupied, challenges such as alleged corruption and informal arrangements have made it difficult to allocate the spaces effectively.
However, some residents have welcomed the enforcement effort, arguing that street vending has contributed to congestion and safety concerns in the town.
Mugisa Araali, a resident of Malibo Road, said the presence of vendors along busy streets has sometimes obstructed movement and contributed to accidents. He urged the city authority to also address the problem of poorly parked vehicles in the town.
On Monday morning, officials from the Fort Portal City Authority, with support from the Uganda Police Force, began implementing measures aimed at restoring trade order in Fort Portal, in line with the central government directive.