Mbarara City Boss Fires Back Over Trade Order Crackdown Claims
Allan Bahanda, Mbarara City Commercial Officer
By Amos Tayebwa
Tension continues to simmer in Mbarara as city authorities intensify the controversial trade order enforcement exercise that has seen kiosks, containers and roadside structures demolished across several parts of the city.
However, the City Commercial Officer, Allan Buhanda, has come out strongly to dismiss allegations from sections of the public accusing the enforcement teams of selective implementation, unfair targeting and confiscating traders’ property without returning it.
Speaking amid growing complaints from affected traders, Buhanda insisted that the ongoing operation is being implemented professionally and fairly, stressing that the public may not fully understand the technical considerations behind the exercise.
According to Buhanda, not every structure that appears illegal automatically qualifies for demolition.
“There are businesses around town which need special treatment. For example timber dealers, you may see their structures looking ramshackled and isolated but they are still there because we are still looking for where to gazette them. This should not worry anybody,” Buhanda explained.
He further noted that the city authorities are handling the exercise gradually and systematically rather than conducting a blanket sweep.
“We operate in a funny environment. It is not a closed room where we can come and sweep everything at once. We shall clear illegal businesses process by process. We are not biased and we are not selective in whatever we are doing. We remain focused on treating people equitably,” he said.
Buhanda also emphasized that trade order enforcement should not be viewed as a temporary campaign but rather a permanent responsibility of the city authorities.
“Trade order is not a project with a beginning and end date. It is a lifetime activity. As long as Mbarara remains a city, trade order must continuously be implemented as one of the key outputs,” he stated.
He warned traders operating illegally not to assume they are safe simply because enforcement teams have not yet reached their areas.
“Our enforcement teams will remain on the ground. Don’t think there will be resting time. We started with some areas because we were instructed to organise the city. If we have not yet reached some places, know that we shall eventually get there because policy cannot be applied selectively,” Buhanda warned.
The commercial officer also rubbished allegations that some enforcement officers are taking bribes to spare certain businesses from demolition.
“We have not taken any bribe from anybody. Those alleging corruption should come forward and prove it,” he challenged.
On claims that traders lost property during the operation, Buhanda maintained that city authorities are ready to return any legitimately claimed items.
“Anybody alleging that his items were taken and never returned should come to the Mbarara City yard and prove ownership so they can reclaim their valuables,” he said.
He added that most of the items currently lying in the city yard are merely scraps, abandoned temporary structures, old display timber and other materials which he described as having little or no value.
The renewed crackdown in Mbarara follows recent confusion triggered by conflicting directives from government officials. The exercise had temporarily been halted after a letter from Minister David Bahati reportedly suspended the operation. However, another communication from Raphael Magyezi later cleared the city authorities to resume the enforcement exercise.
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