The Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, has issued a stern warning to street vendors operating illegally within the city, stressing that trading outside gazetted markets will no longer be tolerated.
Speaking as KCCA launched a two-week sensitisation drive on 5 February 2026, Buzeki made it clear that vendors who ignore the directive face removal from streets, impoundment of their merchandise, and possible court action. The sensitisation period runs until 19 February, after which full enforcement will begin.
According to KCCA, the operation is part of a broader strategy to decongest Kampala’s central business district, which has for years struggled with overcrowding, blocked walkways, and safety concerns caused by unregulated street trading.
City authorities say arrangements have already been made to relocate 1,980 vendors to designated trading spaces in neighbouring municipalities, where they can operate legally and in a more organised environment.
Buzeki emphasised that the exercise is not intended to punish traders but to restore order, protect consumer rights, and improve public safety. She urged vendors to take advantage of the remaining days of sensitisation to voluntarily move to the allocated markets, warning that enforcement teams will show no leniency once the deadline expires.
KCCA maintains that sustainable urban management requires adherence to city laws, adding that orderly markets are essential for a cleaner, safer, and more business-friendly Kampala.