Paidha Town Council Sets One-Month Timeline for Trade Order Enforcement

By Mike Rwothomio

The Paidha Town Council has announced it will commence full enforcement of the national Trade Order in one month, calling on all businesses and traders in the town to prepare for compliance and operational adjustments.

The Trade Order is a government directive aimed at formalizing commercial activities in urban areas by relocating informal street vendors, hawkers, and unauthorized operators to designated formal markets, gazetted trading spaces, or approved business premises.

The move seeks to restore order in trading zones, improve regulatory compliance, and enhance overall urban functionality.

Mr. Felix Jacwicongeyo, Community Development Officer of Paidha Town Council, disclosed the implementation timeline while addressing a council session held on May 7, 2026, at Chillout Lounge in Paidha.

“We are remaining with one month to implement our Trade Order and you need to be ready for the implementation,” Jacwicongeyo stated.

He highlighted persistent operational disorders in the densely populated commercial hub, including illegal vending along Ofaka Road and Arua Road, food establishments operating near public latrines, tea selling in ungazetted locations, kiosks obstructing corridors and access routes, and unauthorized structures in non-designated areas. 

He also noted lingering political campaign posters on walls, billboards, and avenue trees.

Hundreds of roadside vendors and hawkers are expected to relocate primarily to Paidha Central Market , which already hosts over 1,000 vendors or other gazetted and authorized trading spaces within the town of more than 40,000 residents. 

Specific concerns cited include the sale of mangoes, maize, and other produce along Ofaka Road, which contributes to road congestion and accident risks, as well as street vending in front of council offices.

The policy, issued last year by the Ministry of Local Government, aims to improve sanitation, hygiene, and public health standards; reduce traffic congestion; enhance pedestrian safety by clearing walkways, verandas, pavements, road reserves, and corridors; and promote the use of formal, government-established markets.

It also seeks to strengthen compliance with business licensing, tax obligations, and regulatory requirements.

Jacwicongeyo emphasized the need for a shift in business practices “In this town, we still need a lot of mindset change because we still have people who don’t construct without the council knowledge, people who put kiosks anywhere they want. You need to start removing those kiosks because the Trade Order will compel you to do so.”

Traders have been urged to operate exclusively in authorized areas to ensure full regulatory compliance.

The enforcement aligns with a broader national rollout that began in major cities and municipalities, including Kampala under the Kampala Capital City Authority earlier this year, and has since extended to areas such as Nebbi Municipality and Arua City in the West Nile sub-region.

Non-compliance may result in the removal of structures, impounding of goods, and potential legal action.

The directive comes shortly after Paidha Town Council finalized its Physical Development Plan for 2025–2035, designed to address long-standing urban planning deficiencies.

The Trade Order is expected to have a significant impact on many small-scale businesses in Paidha, where a large number of traders operate from kiosks as a means of sustaining livelihoods and often cannot afford commercial rents exceeding UGX 100,000 per month.

Following intense public outcry, the nationwide enforcement was temporarily suspended on April 24, 2026, over concerns regarding its implementation approach, vendor displacement, and insufficient alternatives. It was later reinstated with instructions for strict adherence to Ministry of Local Government guidelines.

Paidha Town Council round about.

Mike Rwothomio is the News Editor at Zoomer Africa, your trusted grassroots information hub for African stories, voices, and updates.