Traders and residents in Mbale City have expressed mixed reactions following the forceful eviction of street vendors from major streets in the city centre.
The Mbale City authorities on Monday, March 2, launched a one-week operation to remove all street vendors and transportation operators and demolished hundreds of kiosks and stalls that had been operating along city roads.
The move, according to officials, is intended to restore order, reduce congestion, and improve accessibility in the city.
While some residents have welcomed the operation, others argue that the process was poorly executed and has left many vendors without alternative places to operate from.
Hajji Massa Musa, the former Mayor of Industrial Division in Mbale City, supported the decision by the authorities, saying the city had become too congested due to the presence of vendors on the streets.
However, some business operators inside the markets say the presence of vendors on the streets has been affecting their businesses for a long time.
Grace Kituyi, a businesswoman operating along Bugwere Market Road, says many customers prefer buying from street vendors instead of entering the market, which has greatly affected traders operating inside.
Despite the support from some traders, the affected vendors have appealed to the city council to designate and gazette appropriate locations where they can legally operate and continue earning a living.
By URN
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