Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has launched a roadmap on how hawkers will operate in the city.
During the launch of the roadmap, held today, at Old Taxi Park, in Kampala, hawkers started by matching and dancing around the city.
Hajji Rwamaganana Rajib, the LC II chairperson of Nakasero market, started by asking the ED to thank President Museveni on their behalf for the idea of the Parish Development Model (PDM).
He further applauded her for the programme she came up with of looking into the issues that affect hawkers and vendors.
“Our people had literally nowhere to sit or stand. But when you came out to address this issue, you pressed the right knob. I am really very happy,” he said.
Rajib also asked Kisaka not to forget to plan for the elderly, the taxi industry, women and the youth who work in Kampala.
The chairman of Uganda Taxi Operatorators Federation (UTOF), Rashid Ssekyindi, who spoke on behalf of the taxi operators asked the ED to persuade President Museveni to visit the Old Taxi Park so that he sees how good it looks.
He however complained about leaving out taxi operators in the PDM programme.
“Since you are the chairperson for PDM in Kampala, I would like to inform you that I looked through the PDM programme but taxi people were not there and yet we are the ones who feed from hand to mouth everyday. We humbly request you to consider us on the PDM list,” he said.
He added that when KCCA chased vendors from Kampala, the taxi drivers lost 30% of their profits.

Kisaka told the vendors that she came to address them at the invitation of Mr. Lubega, the Chairperson of hawkers who told her that they had some issues to discuss with her.
“Today, we have come as the technical team, not as politicians because Mr. Lubega told us that hawkers have some issues, they want to tell us,” she said.
Kisaka noted that they are available and willing to work with them to come up with the best city.
She further appreciated the President for renovating the taxi park which now looks good.
“After the renovation, we decided as KCCA to come up with an idea of a ‘Smart City’ meaning whatever we do, we need to do it in a smart way,” she added.
“I am also happy to see that the people who were against the idea of smart city are now agreeing with it. In this era, let us build a bridge so that the city can make all of us happy.”

She asserted, “We are requesting government to give us a hand in any way possible to see that all our hawkers in Kampala are living well.”
“We are going to come up with the right road map and that is why I have come with my technical team to ensure that we have the best city.”
Some of the members of the technical team who attended the meeting included; Kampala Central Mayor, Salim Uhuru, Town clerk Agnes Nakimuli, the Engineering, Jacob Byamukama, and Kenneth Ruheju who is in charge of law enforcement among others.
Speaking to journalists after the address, Kisaka said that as the technical wing in KCCA, they have come to launch a road map that will guide them on working with hawkers in the city.
“The hawkers were working from everywhere in a disorganised way but now we are saying let us have a proper identification of who is a hawker, where does he work from, what does he sell,” she emphasized.
She added that everybody needs a gazetted place to work, and a license among others
“After Covid, hawkers were everywhere, but now we are thankful that we are coming together, not in anger but to work together, to have a consensus with the leaders so that we have clear ways of working as a team.”
She noted that they must find for them places to work and that government has committed itself to ensure that these places are got.
“We are now identifying suitable places so that we can purchase them and set up stalls for them to work.”
About the PDM, Kisaka explained that the new PDM strategy is first emphasizing the agriculture value chain.
By Kalamira Hope
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