Kamuli, Uganda: The Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, has directed traders and lock-up occupants in Kamuli Municipality to surrender premises whose leases expired, paving the way for the municipal council to reclaim control starting May 1, 2026.
The directive follows a 2003 agreement under which lock-up owners’ tenure lapsed in 2023, legally reverting ownership of the properties to Kamuli Municipal Council.
During a meeting with traders and lock-up occupants at the municipal council hall on Wednesday, Magyezi made it clear that the transition will now be enforced.
“The lease is over, and starting from May 1, 2026, Kamuli Municipal Council is responsible for owning the lock-ups,” he said.
Before the meeting, the minister toured Kamuli Central Market, Kamuli Park, and surrounding business areas, interacting with vendors to assess their operations, revenue contributions, and challenges.
Magyezi also used the engagement to reiterate government’s enforcement of the ongoing trade order aimed at removing street vendors from roads and relocating them into organised markets.
“We want all street vendors to go into the market. However, the current central market cannot accommodate all vendors. Government will construct a modern market to accommodate everyone,” he said.
The move aligns with broader efforts to streamline urban trade, improve sanitation, and formalise business operations across municipalities.
Kamuli Municipality Mayor Luwano Aziz pledged full compliance with the minister’s directive, signalling local government support for the transition. “We will comply with what the minister has decided,” he said.
Similarly, Kamuli Traders Association Chairperson Isabirye Mubarak welcomed the move, noting that traders will follow the guidance issued by government.
Municipal Town Clerk Mangasa Stanslaus said implementation will begin with formal notifications to all affected occupants. “We will first write to all lock-up occupants who have been using the premises as part of the transition process,” he said.
The directive is expected to significantly affect traders and small business operators currently occupying the lock-ups, although the council is yet to outline a clear framework on how the reclaimed spaces will be reallocated or managed.
The development comes amid increasing government pressure to reorganise urban business spaces and enforce compliance with structured market systems.
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