Erias Lukwago and Beti Kamya Clash

Kampala City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has called on the minister for Kampala City Authority Beti Kamya to halt a directive she issued yesterday to evict vendors from the streets.

At a press conference yesterday Kamya said the eviction should be done today to create order among traders in the city and give shop owners who pay licence fees a good environment within which to operate.

However, addressing the media at city hall this morning, after a meeting with division mayors and councilors, Lukwago said the minister should respect KCCA leaders because they have the mandate to run the city on behalf of the government.

He notes that as directly elected leaders, they should be allowed to make decisions that favour all traders in the city rather than take directives from the government.

He argues that yesterday’s directive came in when the authority leaders were still conducting consultative meetings to cater for vendors before evicting them.

According to Lukwago, KCCA will hold another meeting on Monday to decide on the areas that should be gazetted for the vendors as they look for a permanent solution, asking the minister to suspend her orders pending their decision.

Written by David Kugonza