“Leave the streets or face force”: Gulu City gives roadside vendors 14 Days

26 February 2026, 4:20 pm

By Gift Okello

Authorities in Gulu City have issued a two-week ultimatum directing all roadside vendors to vacate the streets, a move that has been met with mixed reactions from affected traders.

The directive, issued by the Gulu City Council Authority, is part of a broader urban management plan aimed at improving sanitation, easing traffic congestion, and restoring order within the central business district.

The Deputy Town Clerk of Laroo-Pece Division, Opiyo Anthony Vincent, appealed to vendors across all business categories to comply with the directive. He warned that failure to do so could result in confrontation once enforcement begins.

However, several vendors interviewed on Thursday by SPEAK FM expressed concern that the 14-day deadline is too short and threatens their livelihoods. Many argue that while they support efforts to organize the city, authorities have not clearly communicated where displaced vendors are expected to relocate.

Kinyera Peter, a fruit vendor operating in the Cereleno area, welcomed the intention to streamline city operations but urged city leaders to first designate alternative trading spaces before enforcing evictions.

Similarly, Okwera Joe, who runs a small garage along Ring Road, questioned the approach taken by authorities, calling on city leadership to address the underlying economic pressures that force people to operate along roadsides.

Environmental activist and opinion leader Lubanagakene Kenneth advised the city council to prioritize sensitization and public awareness instead of immediate force. He noted that educating vendors about the safety risks of roadside trading could achieve better compliance than abrupt enforcement.

Alex Okoya, the LC II Chairperson of Labor Line, warned that the eviction exercise could face resistance or fail altogether if no viable alternatives are provided for informal traders.

The ultimatum has once again brought to the fore the delicate balance between urban order and economic survival, as hundreds of informal traders in Gulu City brace for an uncertain future.