Street Vendors Return After KCCA Evictions

 

Despite repeated directives and evictions, some Ugandan street vendors continue to sell clothes outside shop fronts, determined to survive in a difficult economic environment. The streets remain lined with neatly folded piles of second-hand garments, plastic bags filled with stock, and vendors patiently waiting for customers even after being sent away.

For many of these traders, selling outside shops is not a matter of defiance but necessity. Formal shop spaces are expensive, and daily rent can easily wipe out profits. The pavement, though uncertain, offers visibility and access to passing customers. After every enforcement operation, vendors temporarily disappear, only to slowly return, setting up again in familiar spots.

This cycle highlights the tension between city order and economic survival. Authorities emphasize decongesting the city and maintaining organized business spaces, while vendors argue they are simply trying to earn a living. Without affordable alternatives, the streets become their workplace folded clothes acting as both inventory and hope.

The scene reflects resilience. Even after being chased away, traders reorganize their merchandise, sit beside their stacks, and continue selling. Customers also return, drawn by lower prices and the convenience of roadside shopping.

Until sustainable solutions are created such as affordable markets or designated vending areas the pattern is likely to continue. For these vendors, the street is not just a location. It is their livelihood, their daily gamble, and their determination to keep going despite uncertainty.