Kampala Lord Mayor , Erias Lukwago has lashed out at city authorities including Kampala Minister ,Betty Kamya over the crackdown on street vending and abuse of traffic laws, saying “what they are calling a lawful operation is not correct.
Lukwago argues that evicting street vendors cannot be the solution to Kampala’s escalating problems including reducing space for businesses.
Today’s eviction of scores of street vendors followed an order issued recently by Minister Kamya.
According to Kamya, the vendors were illegally selling merchandise on the streets and therefore needed to clear them off for a better picture of the city, drawing an outcry from the hawkers.
However, Lukwago says they had decided to gazette places like Ssebaana Kizito road, Allen Road to settle traders, but instead of implementing the resolution of the authority, Kamya issued an order not to listen to the Lord Mayor.
Peter Kawujju, the KCCA spokesperson confirmed the operation,saying that street vendors and any other unlawful traders have returned from the time the outgoing executive director Jennifer Musisi announced that she was resigning.
Kawujju said such illegal activities lead to congestion on the street pavements, obstruction of traffic and other associated vices and vowed a crackdown on the perpetrators.
However, the vendors have cried out for other solutions other than eviction that many members of the public have welcomed.
