Over 300 Traders Evicted from Kampala–Masaka Highway Road Reserve
Mpigi-Uganda — February 27, 2026
More than 300 roadside traders have been removed from the road reserve along the Kampala–Masaka Highway in Kayabwe Town Council, Mpigi District, in a government-backed clean-up drive aimed at restoring order, safeguarding drainage systems and improving town aesthetics.
Under directives from Works and Transport Minister Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, local authorities carried out the eviction operation peacefully on Friday. Makeshift stalls, wooden structures, storage houses, and informal roadside businesses — including those selling soft drinks, roasted meat and other goods — were dismantled as part of the effort to clear illegal occupiers from the road reserve.
Authorities Say Order Comes First
Town officials said the exercise was conducted without confrontation, using a community-oriented method locally known as Bulungi Bwansi to avoid clashes with traders who had operated in the area for years.
Zed Kasule, Chairperson of Kayabwe Town Council, told reporters that action was taken following the minister’s explicit instructions to remove all encroachments from the road reserve. Officials warned property owners with established shops to pave their yards and urged all business entities in the council area to organise themselves under elected leadership structures.
Mixed Reactions Along the Highway
Supporters of the clean-up applauded the move. Some residents and boda-boda operators said the area’s appearance has improved and that clearing blocked drainage channels will help reduce flooding and health hazards. Huzaifa Kirevu, a local boda boda riders’ chairperson, said the operation would make the town more pleasant and safer.
However, traders affected by the eviction expressed frustration, saying they were given neither adequate notice nor alternative sites to continue their trade — a concern also echoed in similar vendor removal operations in Kampala, where traders have struggled to adapt to changes in trading location and regulation.
Some Kampala traders supporting city clean-ups in recent days have called for reforms to formal trading spaces like arcades and markets, arguing that relocation must be paired with accessible, viable alternatives for informal vendors who depend on foot traffic for their livelihoods.
What Comes Next?
Local leaders said the situation will be monitored over the next 30 days to ensure compliance and maintain improvements. Observers note that such enforcement efforts are part of a broader push across Uganda’s urban centres to regulate roadside trading and reduce encroachment on public infrastructure — a policy that continues to generate both support and controversy.
