By Aggrey Baba
In an exclusive interview with Mulengera News, a city vendors’ leader, Salongo Joseph Kagolo, has said former Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director (ED) Jennifer Musisi handled street vending challenges more professionally than those who came after her.
The remarks were made on Friday, March 27, where Kagolo, also former USAFI market chairperson reflected on how different KCCA administrations have managed informal trade in the city.
He pointed to Musisi’s leadership style as firm but responsive, noting that even at the height of enforcement operations against street vending, her administration created room for dialogue and structured alternatives.
During Musisi’s tenure from 2011 to 2018, KCCA implemented strict measures to clear vendors from streets and pavements as part of a wider effort to improve sanitation and restore order in Kampala. The operations often triggered resistance from vendors, but the authority later introduced designated Sunday markets on selected streets, including Lum Street, to allow controlled trading, an arrangement which provided a compromise, enabling vendors to operate legally on specific days without disrupting weekday business and traffic flow.
At the same time, KCCA encouraged relocation to formal markets though uptake remained low due to rental costs and limited accessibility for many traders.
Kagolo contrasted this approach with that of former ED Dorothy Kisaka and the current office holder Sharifah Buzeki, arguing that recent enforcement efforts have not been matched with practical alternatives for affected vendors.
His concerns come against the backdrop of a fresh eviction exercise launched on February 19, aimed at decongesting the city and paving the way for a “smart city” environment.
Authorities say the move was necessary after streets and walkways became overcrowded, hindering movement for pedestrians, boda boda riders, and motorists.
However, vendors say the crackdown has disrupted livelihoods without offering clear options for relocation.
KCCA and the Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs headed by Minsa Kabanda, had indicated that Sunday markets would be reinstated and that vendors should occupy space in the city’s 16 public markets. But according to Kagolo, many of these markets are either already full or financially out of reach for ordinary traders like the people he leads.
He also raised concerns that some of the remaining spaces are controlled by individuals with connections, making access difficult unless vendors can afford high rental fees.
