Uganda’s Opposition Faults Nationwide Trader Evictions

The opposition People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) has condemned ongoing evictions of traders from towns across Uganda, warning that the operations are being carried out without proper planning for those affected.

The evictions, which intensified in early 2026 shortly after the general elections, first took shape in Kampala under enforcement by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). Authorities targeted street vendors operating in the central business district, citing the need to restore order, improve sanitation, and ease congestion.

The crackdown has since spread to other urban centres including Jinja, Mbarara and Gulu, where local governments have carried out similar operations to remove traders from streets and non-gazetted areas.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, PFF Deputy Chairperson Erias Lukwago said while the party supports efforts to bring order in urban trade, the current approach is flawed.

He said the exercise should be handled in a way that protects livelihoods, noting that many traders depend entirely on street vending for survival.

Lukwago also criticized what he described as the excessive use of force during the operations, saying some traders have had their goods destroyed in the process.

Recent enforcement operations in Kampala have seen security personnel and KCCA officers removing vendors from key streets, including Luwum Street and Namirembe Road, with some confrontations reported.

PFF maintains that without proper resettlement plans, the evictions risk worsening unemployment and pushing more Ugandans into economic vulnerability.

The party called on authorities to first establish “viable strategies” including designated and safer trading spaces before evictions are enforced.