Minister of Local Government Raphael Magyezi, has announced the resumption of nationwide enforcement of the trade order immediately, following cabinet approval on Monday.
“Cabinet at it’s sitting yesterday, the 27th, April 2026, agreed and resolved that the implementation of the trade order should continue as earlier planned” Magyezi said.
Magyezi told journalists that the recent halt to the exercise was in response to a group of petitioners including Born Again churches, asking for more time to improve their structures.
“I think previously in Parliament, we informed the house that we had suspended the trade order and that was because we had had a meeting with some petitioners, that is the leadership of Born Again and Pentecostal churches in Uganda, as well as the Federation of Uganda Traders Association” he said.
“They had come to us with a number of concerns, we listened to them and they asked for a little more time”he stated..
Magyezi however revelaed that cabinet agreed that demolition of churches be suspended to allow the churches time to improve their structures and get their building plans approved.
Min Magyezi noted that the Ministry is going to strengthen the policy in the next enforcement by stepping up community sensitisation to make sure that everyone is on board.
Set up an inter-ministerial task force which will work with representatives of all stakeholders, such as churches, vendors and traders, for proper implementation the trade order. Work out solutions to ensure that the people who have not yet found space in the formal markets or in the designated trade areas are reassigned to new places to work from and encourage Local Governments to establish weekly market days in convenient places for the traders” he said.
Last week State Minister for Trade Hon David Bahati, announced the suspension of the enforcement of the trade order across the country following complaints from traders, religious leaders and the Inter-Religious Council.
Bahati noted that the suspension of the trade order until June will allow for further consultations on the implementation of the trade order, however.
Trade Order in Kampala is nonnegotiable, Cabinet agrees that Kampala is the Capital City of Uganda and face of our nation and must therefore reflect order, discipline and structured economic activity.
“The progress made so far must not be reversed, otherwise we shall have lost the gains so far achieved with trade order”, noted the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda.
KCCA’s 2026 trade order aims to formalize over 12,500 previously unregistered traders and thousands of boda bodas, with the primary goal of restoring order, safety, and enhancing revenue collection.
KCCA has identified 2,520 stalls in 17 KCCA-managed markets and engaged 69 private markets to absorb displaced traders.
Licensed traders had increased from 12,536 to over 20,000 before the temporary suspension of the directive in late April 2026 for further stakeholder consultations.
