THE Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has issued a new directive to street vendors and hawkers to leave the streets by Sunday or face forceful eviction.

The directive follows a meeting with representatives from the government, KCCA and several political leaders over the matter.

"Kampala Capital City Authority has issued a deadline of 4th September 2011 for all illegal street vendors and hawkers to leave the street," the notice partly reads.

Addressing journalists at the KCCA headquarters, the Kampala Executive Director, Jennifer Musisi said the presence of hawkers and vendors was posing a security threat to the city.

"In this era of terrorism and bomb threats, we need to control and regulate the number of illegal street vendors. No one knows the kind of merchandise that they trade in," she said.

Musisi said the Authority had identified over 8,000 spaces in 69 city markets where the vendors can sell their merchandise.

Over 8,500 street vendors are estimated to be operating in the city's central business district alone. Most of them operate along pavements, road reserves and outside shopping centres.

Musisi argued that the eviction was part of a wider plan to ensure trade order in the city, in accordance with the Trade Order Ordinance, 2006.

She explained that the move would help to reduce congestion that clogs the city, especially during peak hours, and protect consumers from fake products sold on the streets.

Most of the vendors trade in small household items including clothes, pastries, beverages, shoes, among others.

Musisi urged the vendors to start leaving the streets, and warned that those who defy the notice would be forcefully evicted.

She accused some shop keepers of hiring hawkers to sell their merchandise on the streets. She urged owners of buildings to renovate their pavements, paint their buildings, and get rid of illegal vendors.

She said the Authority had received funding from development partners and the government to construct six modern markets in various city suburbs, among them Wandegeya and Ntinda.

She also said construction of an ultra-modern model market would start soon in Busega, on the outskirts of the city.

In June, Musisi issued a public notice to vendors to vacate the streets. However, the Kampala Lord Mayor asked KCCA and the government to find alternative trade settlements. Lukwago could not be reached for comment over the matter yesterday.