The High Court of Uganda has temporarily blocked Jinja City Council from evicting vendors and kiosk operators, ruling that the move threatened livelihoods and was issued without providing alternative operating spaces.
The decision follows a petition filed by a group of vendors and kiosk operators in Jinja City who challenged the city council’s eviction notice, arguing that authorities had failed to designate alternative areas for them to continue their businesses.
Through their lawyer, Sharif Ssemaganda, the traders told court that the eviction directive would jeopardize their primary source of income, noting that many of them depend entirely on roadside kiosks and stalls for daily survival.
In response to the application, Robert Mukunza, the Acting Deputy Registrar of the High Court, issued a temporary restraining order stopping the city council from carrying out the planned evictions.
The order will remain in force until the matter is fully heard and determined by the court.
City authorities have since pledged to comply with the court directive as the legal proceedings continue.
The dispute comes amid ongoing efforts by the city council to remove vendors and kiosk operators from several streets as part of a campaign aimed at improving urban planning, orderliness, and sanitation in Jinja City.
By Newsroom
16th March 2026
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