MPs have criticized the Ministry of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Metropolitan Affairs over what legislators described as the rushed eviction of vendors from Kampala streets without adequate alternative market spaces.
The concerns were raised during a meeting between the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)–Central and top KCCA officials, who had appeared to respond to queries in the December 2025 Auditor General’s report.
Monica Edamachu, the Under Secretary at the Ministry of KCCA, admitted that government is still grappling with the challenge of providing enough workspaces for unemployed youth, women and other economic groups.
“As I talk now, we are almost completing design of Ggaba and Usafi markets such that we can have a modern facility and the design that we have developed has been in consultation with the vendors themselves. They have given us their input as well and we have done vendor census and we developed a tool as a ministry and we did vendor census,” Edamachu told MPs.
She added that government has already contracted the construction of three markets in the metropolitan area.
“Already, we have contracted three markets in the Metropolitan, that is Kawuku Market, Wakiso Market, Mpigi Central Market, and soon, we are going to advertise for construction works for Usafi and Ggaba markets,” she said.
However, MPs questioned why vendors were evicted before these markets were completed.
PAC Vice Chairperson Gorreth Namugga described the eviction as inhumane and poorly planned.
“To any person who is caring and who believes that there must be a plan for any area, it is very absurd that you just sweep away (vendors) from the city and then you start planning for where you will go in the next three years. You are telling us in the next three years they will be able to occupy those spaces,” Namugga said.
She further reminded officials that providing a proper working environment for citizens is a government obligation.
“We should stop working as if we are just helping the wannainchi. It’s our responsibility to ensure that everyone works in a conducive working environment. So, we should not behave as if we are just helping the people,” she added.
The committee urged KCCA and the ministry to ensure proper planning and timely establishment of markets before implementing eviction operations in the future.
Last week on Thursday, KCCA, with support from police, enforced a city-wide operation targeting vendors operating along streets and road reserves.
According to KCCA, government markets — including Usafi, Busega, Nakawa, Luzira, New Ntinda, Kamwokya and Nateete — have more than 2,500 available spaces to accommodate relocated traders.
However, officials disclosed that some of the markets are still incomplete, even as the number of evicted vendors exceeds the available stall spaces in the existing markets
