By Mike Rwothomio

The technical department of Paidha Town Council in Zombo District has issued a detailed roadmap for the implementation of the long-awaited Trade Order, a Ministry of Local Government directive designed to formalize commercial activities across urban centers.

The policy mandates the relocation of informal street vendors, hawkers, and unauthorized operators to designated formal markets, gazetted trading spaces, or approved business premises.

On Thursday, June 4, 2026, during a tense meeting with hundreds of traders ,predominantly kiosk operators at the council premises, Town Clerk Esmond Odota announced that the Trade Order will take effect on July 1.

According to the council, enforcement will target key commercial corridors, including:

Nebbi Road from Mvungu Hill, stopping in Oturgang.

Main Road (Kakira Road), stopping around Country Cottages. 

Main Roundabout-Nyondo Road, stopping around St. Bhakita Junction.

Main Roundabout–Ofaka Road, stopping around Cwiny–Maleng Medical Centre.

Odota acknowledged implementation challenges but emphasized the directive’s mandatory nature.

“This is not our directive, it’s from above and we cannot do anything to stop it,” he stated.

Paidha Town Council will join Nebbi Municipality and Arua City in the West Nile sub-region, where the Trade Order has already been extensively rolled out alongside other urban centers nationwide.

Mr. Felix Jacwic-Ungeyu, Paidha Town Council Community Development Officer, briefed kiosk operators on the specifics of the Trade Order.

He highlighted the removal of campaign posters, illegal street vending particularly along Ofaka Road, unauthorized structures such as kiosks and extension stalls, and encroachments on road reserves and drainage channels.

Jacwic-Ungeyu recommended that business owners install dustbins at every premises, provide security lighting, apply fresh paint to business structures, and maintain food hygiene standards to ensure regulatory compliance.

Traders expressed disappointment, noting that kiosk operations represent their primary source of livelihood and requesting an extension of the implementation deadline to allow adequate preparation for relocation.

Local Leadership Responds to Trader Concerns

Mr. Amos Jacan, LCIII Chairperson of Paidha Town Council, acknowledged the traders’ pleas and committed to engaging higher authorities regarding a possible extension.

 “we shall take their plea to the necessary office, we shall try to work on it, and also the issue of extension of deadline,” he said.

Jacan urged traders not to politicize the initiative, revealing that the Ministry of Local Government issued the directive to the council on March 10.

“This is a national issue. It started from Kampala, it came to the cities, the municipals, now it has reached the town councils,” he explained. He added that while the policy may negatively impact council revenue in the short term, “developments come with a lot of challenges. Let’s embrace it and ensure it works very well.”

The Trade Order seeks to restore order in trading zones, strengthen regulatory compliance, and enhance overall urban functionality and public health standards.

In an earlier council session at Chill Out Lounge, CDO Jacwic-Ungeyu highlighted ongoing operational disorders in the commercial hub, including illegal vending along Ofaka and Arua Roads, food establishments near public latrines, kiosks obstructing corridors, and structures in non-designated areas.

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

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

The enforcement forms part of a national rollout that began in major cities and municipalities, including Kampala under the Kampala Capital City Authority, and has since expanded to areas such as Nebbi Municipality and Arua City.

The directive follows Paidha Town Council’s recent finalization of its Physical Development Plan for 2025–2035, intended to address long-standing urban planning gaps.

The Trade Order is anticipated to significantly affect many small-scale businesses in Paidha, where numerous traders rely on kiosks for livelihood sustenance and often lack capacity to afford commercial rents exceeding UGX 100,000 per month.

Nationwide enforcement was temporarily suspended on April 24, 2026, following public outcry over implementation concerns, vendor displacement, and insufficient alternatives. It was subsequently reinstated with strict instructions to adhere to Ministry of Local Government guidelines.

Main Street of Paidha

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at Zoomer Africa, your number one grassroot information hub for African stories, trends and updates.