The Minister of State for Trade, David Bahati, has announced the suspension of the national trade order enforcement following concerns raised by Parliament, though recent reports suggest Cabinet may push for its resumption.
On April 24, 2026, a wave of cautious relief swept through the corridors of the Ugandan Parliament and the bustling stalls of urban markets. David Bahati, the Minister of State for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, stood before the plenary to announce a significant policy retreat: the nationwide suspension of the Trade Order enforcement.
The directive, which had been in high gear since February, was designed to transform Uganda’s urban landscape into a model of modern orderliness. Instead, it became a flashpoint for a national debate on the ethics of development and the resilience of the informal economy.
The Vision of Order: Why the Crackdown Began
At its core, the Trade Order was an ambitious attempt to solve the “urban paradox” facing Kampala and other emerging cities like Mbarara, Gulu, and Jinja. For years, city planners—led by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)—have argued that for Uganda to transition into a middle-income economy, its urban centers must function with professional precision.
The enforcement targeted:
- Decongestion: Clearing pedestrian walkways and road reserves that had been swallowed by merchandise.
- Sanitation and Safety: Reducing the health risks associated with ground-level food vending and the fire hazards of makeshift kiosks.
- Fair Competition: Protecting licensed shopkeepers who pay rent, taxes, and utility bills, yet find their entrances blocked by vendors selling the same goods at lower prices.
By mid-February 2026, enforcement teams, often accompanied by security personnel, began a sweeping campaign to dismantle illegal structures and relocate thousands of vendors to designated government markets.
The “Goon” Controversy and Parliamentary Backlash
While the objective of an organized city was rarely disputed, the methodology of the rollout drew fierce condemnation. In Parliament, the mood was one of indignation. Members of Parliament (MPs) like Solomon Silwanyi (Bukooli Central) and Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality) became vocal critics of the “heavy-handed” tactics used by enforcement squads.
The primary point of contention was the alleged use of “unidentified youth” or “goons” alongside official security forces. Reports surfaced of merchandise being confiscated without inventory, kiosks being crushed by bulldozers in the dead of night, and, most damagingly, reckless statements made against religious institutions during evictions near places of worship.
“The trade order is not bad, but the government should not use goons to evict,” noted Speaker Anita Among. “This should be done progressively; make these people understand they are operating in road reserves, and where we need markets to relocate them, we put them there first.”
The Human Cost of “Acting First, Thinking Later”
The suspension comes at a time when the economic stakes for the “common man” (Omuntu wa wansi) are at an all-time high. For many vendors, a roadside stall isn’t just a business; it is a tuition fund, a healthcare plan, and a dinner table.
The Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), led by Executive Director John Walugembe, welcomed the suspension but highlighted the “irreversible damage” already done. While the government has identified thousands of vacant spaces in public markets like Usafi and Wandegeya, traders argue these locations lack the high foot traffic necessary for survival. The suspension, therefore, serves as a cooling-off period to address this “foot-traffic gap” and ensure that relocation doesn’t lead to bankruptcy.
The Terms of the Suspension
Minister Bahati was careful to clarify the boundaries of this policy pause. It is not a “return to the status quo” for everyone.
- Partial Halt: Enforcement is suspended only in areas where the operation has not yet reached.
- No Return: Vendors who have already been evicted or relocated are not permitted to return to the streets.
- The June Deadline: The government has set a timeline for “deep consultations” with traders, religious leaders, and the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda. A final meeting is scheduled for the end of June 2026, with a “refined way of operating” expected to launch in July.
The Shadow of Resumption: Cabinet vs. Parliament
Despite the suspension, a tension remains between the legislative and executive branches. Recent reports suggest that while Parliament pushed for a pause to protect livelihoods, some segments of the Cabinet are eager to resume enforcement. The argument from the “pro-resumption” camp is that a prolonged suspension creates a “compliance vacuum,” where vendors might interpret the pause as a permanent victory, making future regulation even harder to implement.
The Cabinet’s push for resumption is likely driven by the need to meet urban development targets and infrastructure projects that are currently stalled by illegal encroachments. However, doing so without a “human face”—as MP Ssemujju Nganda put it—risks further political fallout as the country looks toward the next electoral cycle.
A Refined Framework for July
The Trade Order suspension is a rare moment of policy introspection for the Ugandan government. It acknowledges that “order” cannot be imposed through sheer force if it destroys the very people it is meant to serve.
As the June consultations approach, the success of the “July Reset” will depend on three factors:
- Sensitization: Moving from “eviction notices” to “community engagement.”
- Market Viability: Making sure gazetted markets are actually attractive to customers, not just empty concrete shells.
- Professionalism: Ensuring that only uniformed, accountable officers handle enforcement, putting an end to the era of “goon” involvement.
For the vendors currently in limbo, the next two months will be a period of intense anxiety. For the government, it is a race to prove that Uganda can be both organized and empathetic—a modern state that doesn’t leave its most vulnerable citizens behind in the name of “order.”
