Hawkers under their umbrella body, the Fuba Tukole Hawkers and Vendors Association, have appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to pardon arrested vendors and hawkers as he begins his new political term.
According to the association, a number of vendors and hawkers were allegedly arrested without clear charges and continue to remain in detention.
Speaking to the media, the association leader Ismail Mubiru said many of their members are still being held without formal charges, a situation he described as unjust.
Mubiru urged President Museveni to use the beginning of his new term to grant amnesty to the affected vendors, arguing that their continued detention is negatively affecting families and livelihoods.
He further noted that many vendors and hawkers did not participate in the presidential swearing-in ceremony due to poverty, claiming that the government has failed to recognize informal traders as key contributors to the economy through taxes and daily trade activities.
The association now hopes that the new administration will prioritize the concerns of informal sector workers, especially hawkers and vendors, by ensuring fair treatment, recognition, and inclusion in national economic planning programs.
By Our Reporter
12th May 2026
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