CASH-STRAPPED Mbarara City to Resume Trade Order Crackdown as Vendors Warned
Simon Ejuwa (inset), the Mbarara City Deputy Town Clerk
By Amos Tayebwa
MBARARA – Mbarara City authorities have announced that the suspended trade order enforcement exercise will soon resume, warning street vendors and owners of illegal temporary structures to vacate voluntarily before law enforcement returns.
The exercise, which was temporarily halted due to financial constraints, is expected to restart around early August 2026 once the city secures the required funding.
Mbarara City Deputy Town Clerk Simon Ejuwa said the city remains committed to restoring order despite struggling to raise enough money to facilitate the operation.
“The trade order is continuing. The exercise requires a lot of money and we are struggling with where we can get the money. If we get enough revenue resources, we will do what we can. But we also need Central Government intervention because this is a big challenge for us,” Ejuwa said.
He revealed that the next phase of the operation will involve all key stakeholders and include public sensitisation campaigns to help residents understand the importance of maintaining trade order.
“We are going to another phase of the trade order and we are starting soon. We want all the stakeholders to come on board and we sensitise the community about the importance of this trade order,” he added.
A few months ago, Mbarara City carried out a major enforcement operation that saw hundreds of street vendors removed from roadsides and public spaces. Authorities also demolished numerous temporary structures, including churches and business premises that had been constructed without approved development permits.
However, after the exercise was suspended, illegal vending gradually returned to several streets while new temporary structures began mushrooming, particularly on the outskirts of the city, undermining the gains made during the earlier operation.
Ejuwa warned vendors who have returned to the streets to leave before enforcement teams resume operations.
“We still have a challenge because we have people who try to sneak back to places we had cleared during the recent exercise, but I want to assure them that this time we shall arrest them,” he warned.
He said the city would not spare anyone, regardless of their social or political status.
“Trade order has no side. Whether one is influential or is in government, the team will close their eyes and make sure that any temporary structure in town is removed,” he said.
Speaking during a recent meeting with officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Ejuwa said the earlier enforcement exercise had already begun transforming the city.
According to him, the crackdown has encouraged more investors to construct permanent commercial buildings, with several multi-storey buildings being developed within just three months after the operation.
He, however, expressed concern over weak prosecution of offenders, saying many suspects arrested during enforcement operations are released because the city lacks a dedicated judicial officer.
“We still have a challenge of prosecuting some of these people who continue to be stubborn. Even if we arrest a good number of people, they get released because, for the court, we don’t have a permanent person for the city alone. We appeal to the court to consider having a permanent magistrate for the city,” Ejuwa said.
Despite the financial challenges, city authorities insist the trade order programme will continue as planned once funds become available.
The Deputy Town Clerk also revealed that the previous enforcement exercise has boosted the city’s local revenue collections.
According to Ejuwa, revenue has increased from UGX 8.4 billion to UGX 9 billion, largely driven by increased building plan approvals and construction permit fees as more investors opt for permanent developments instead of temporary structures.
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