The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has called on government to immediately compensate street vendors affected by recent eviction exercises, arguing that authorities must take responsibility for losses incurred during enforcement operations.
Addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Kampala, FDC president Patrick Oboi Amuriat said many vendors had been operating with the awareness and approval of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), making their sudden displacement unjustifiable without restitution.
"There are people who paid revenue to the authorities, and now the same authorities are going after them," Amuriat said.
He insisted that government should either compensate affected traders or restore property destroyed during enforcement, while also urging Parliament to scrutinise the manner in which the evictions were carried out.
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Amuriat criticised what he described as a recurring pattern in government policy execution, saying decisions were often made without meaningful consultation.
"The government has perfected a dangerous pattern -- implement first, consult later, apologise never," he said.
The opposition leader further argued that street vending should not be criminalised, warning that urban development policies must not exclude low-income earners who depend on informal trade for survival.
He called for a halt to evictions until a clear relocation plan is in place and agreed upon with stakeholders.
His remarks come in the wake of government's decision last week to suspend enforcement of the controversial trade order following sustained pressure from Parliament and public criticism over the treatment of urban vendors.
State Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives David Bahati said the suspension is intended to allow further consultations aimed at harmonising implementation and ensuring that displaced traders are accommodated.
"The enforcement of the trade order is hereby suspended until we can harmonise our approach with all stakeholders and ensure that every displaced vendor has a designated place to go," Bahati said.
The suspension followed weeks of parliamentary scrutiny, with legislators warning that the enforcement risked undermining government commitments to protecting livelihoods under programmes targeting the urban poor.
A consultative meeting at the Ministry of Local Government, led by Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya, brought together leaders of the Federation of Uganda Traders Association (FUTA), headed by John Kabanda, to explore what officials described as a more "humane" approach to regulation.
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While KCCA reports that licensed traders have increased from 12,536 to over 20,000, lawmakers have raised concerns that many vendors still lack access to designated trading spaces.
Parliament has also questioned delays in market infrastructure development, noting that only three of the 12 planned markets have been completed, despite Shs 8.3 billion allocated for the 2024/25 financial year, according to the Auditor General's December 2025 report.
Although the suspension has temporarily eased tensions, pressure continues to mount on government to address compensation demands and deliver long-term solutions for affected traders.
