Govt to resume trade order enforcement after four-day suspension

By Skika Reporter.

The government has announced it will resume enforcement of its nationwide trade order directive following a four-day suspension, setting the stage for renewed efforts to regulate urban commerce.

Speaking Tuesday, Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi said Cabinet had resolved to proceed with implementation as originally planned, while strengthening coordination and public engagement.

“The Cabinet agreed to resume implementation of the trade order as originally planned,” he said.

The revised approach will incorporate an inter-ministerial task force bringing together government agencies, religious leaders, vendors, and traders to guide the process. Authorities say the move is intended to ease tensions and improve compliance.

Under the renewed plan, traders will be relocated to designated markets, while selected areas will introduce weekly market days to accommodate small-scale vendors. The government is also prioritising community sensitisation to ensure smoother enforcement.

Magyezi urged traders to cooperate with local authorities and refrain from returning to unauthorised trading spaces.

“Let us work together to contribute to this good cause of having towns and localities that are organized, clean, healthy, and safe for all of us to live in,” he said.

The trade order policy was first issued on March 10, 2026, when the Ministry of Local Government directed Chief Administrative Officers and town clerks to restore order in urban areas.

The directives include relocating street vendors to formal markets, removing campaign posters, enforcing food safety standards, improving waste management and street lighting, regulating public transport, and strengthening compliance with building and planning laws.

Local governments have also been tasked with developing customised strategies suited to their jurisdictions.

However, implementation has faced challenges. In several towns, including Mbale City, some vendors have returned to the streets following the temporary suspension, citing confusion and uncertainty.

While authorities maintain that the policy will improve safety, sanitation, and urban organisation, traders have raised concerns about reduced customer traffic in formal markets, poor working conditions, and declining incomes.

With enforcement set to resume, the government now faces the task of balancing order with the livelihoods of thousands of informal traders.