Street Vendor Rights: Clash Intensifies as Uganda's Cities Clear Streets Without Clear Legal Protections for Informal Traders

Kampala/Jinja, Uganda:  As a nationwide crackdown on street vending sweeps through Ugandas urban centers, a sharp divide has emerged between government authorities insisting on strict enforcement of existing laws and vendors demanding recognition of their right to earn a living in the absence of supportive regulations. The Ministry of Trade, Industries and Cooperatives has firmly defended the evictions, arguing that street vending lacks any legal foundation under current statutes. Commissioner for Internal Trade Zackey Kalega stated that the Trade Licensing Act has not provided for street vendors, describing them as operating illegally outside designated shops or limited hawking provisions. Operating