Gulu City cracks down on street trade to restore order

Authorities in Gulu City Council have announced a sweeping operation to reorganise trade activities in an effort to restore cleanliness, order, and proper business conduct.

Speaking during a press conference at the Gulu City Council Boardroom, City Clerk Innocent Ahimbisibwe said the move is intended to preserve the city’s reputation as one of the cleanest and most orderly urban centres in Uganda.

“We have led the country in cleanliness and order for a long time, and we want to maintain that position,” he said.

Ahimbisibwe noted that while the city values trade and economic growth, authorities are increasingly concerned about disorder in the central business area.

He said some traders are selling counterfeit goods, while others deal in items that require proper storage and protection from direct sunlight.

He further urged vendors to occupy available stalls and shops instead of operating along pedestrian walkways and roadsides.

“We have more than enough business spaces. I appeal to the public to use them rather than occupying passenger pathways,” he emphasised.

According to city officials, returning traders to designated premises will ease traffic congestion and help curb theft linked to overcrowded streets.

Authorities are also encouraging traders to share rental spaces to lower operational costs such as rent and trading licenses.

City leaders cited growing security and public health risks as justification for the enforcement exercise. Officials say mobile money operators conducting transactions in open spaces have become targets for theft, while roadside food vendors are difficult for health inspectors to monitor.

“How are we supposed to attract investors if landlords are not receiving rent?” Ahimbisibwe asked.

The city has set aside a public sensitization period which started from February 25 until March 11 to guide traders on the new measures and authorities are also recruiting additional personnel, including support from the army and police, to enforce compliance.

“We want to assure the public that this is for the common good. It is not intended to harm or displace anyone,” he said.

However, he warned that traders who defy the directive will face legal action and confiscated goods will attract a daily storage fee of 2,000 shillings.

Despite the assurances, some vendors say they are anxious about the planned crackdown.

Lamunu Lucy, a vendor at Gulu main market, recalled losses suffered during a previous enforcement operation.

“Last time, I lost nearly half of my goods when such an operation was done. It affected my business so much that I struggled to pay my children’s school fees,” she said.

She appealed to authorities to extend the two-week relocation period, arguing that it is too short for traders to reorganize their businesses.

Janet Akumu, a vendor at Cereleno market, said while traders understand the need to uphold Gulu’s city status, they hope enforcement will be carried out with leniency and consideration for affordability.

“I am a single mother with three children, so losing my business would not be easy for me. I don’t feel like I have a voice in what is happening,” she said.

Peter Banya, Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Pece-Laroo Division, confirmed that vendors operating outside designated areas are being warned.

“For the past nine months to a year, people have been selling everywhere. Those inside the markets are paying taxes and complaining because outside vendors block customers,” he said.

He clarified that the evening market officially begins at 5:30 p.m., and vendors must operate within approved hours and locations.

The enforcement will target Gulu main market, Lacor Market, Cereleno market, the main street, and other busy areas. Kiosks erected within road reserves will also be removed.

“These days we are not collecting enough taxes because vendors outside are not paying. We believe we have given enough time, and now we must act,” Banya said.

City leaders have urged residents and traders to cooperate in restoring order.

“Let us join hands and make this city admirable once again,” officials said.

Recent data shows that Gulu City is one of Uganda’s fastest-growing urban centres, with an estimated population of about 216,000 people as of early 2026 — making it the second most populous city in Uganda after Kampala.

Trade remains the dominant economic activity, accounting for nearly 43 percent of all licensed business activities in the city’s development profile, ahead of sectors such as hospitality, manufacturing, and services.

Formal markets including Gulu main market, Cereleno, and Layibi host thousands of licensed vendors and thousands of informal traders operate along city streets, creating stiff competition for formal businesses and posing regulatory challenges for authorities.