Once again, I salute all hardworking Ugandans striving daily to earn a living. Today, I wish to speak on behalf of our street vendors — the men and women who roast cassava, chips, meat (muchomo), fish, chapati, mandazi, and kikomando along our streets and trading centres.
I appreciate the government under H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, UWEP, and the Youth Livelihood Fund (YLP). However, many street vendors cannot access these funds because they lack formal groups or collateral. These people also deserve a special fund dedicated to supporting small informal businesses.
Street vending is a vital source of income in towns such as Biiso, Buliisa, Wanseko, Ngwedo, and Bugoigo — especially with the rising population brought by Oil and Gas activities. For example, a vendor selling roasted cassava, chapati, or fish can make around Shs 15,000 profit per day. If given capital of Shs 500,000 to 1 million, they could increase production and profits to Shs 30,000–40,000 daily, earning up to Shs 1.2 million a month.
However, many currently operate under poor conditions — without shelters, water, or electricity — and start business late (around 10:00 am) because they must set up temporary stalls daily. If provided with permanent shelters, they could start selling as early as 7:00 am, adding at least 3 extra hours of business daily. This could raise their earnings by 30–40%, enabling them to pay school fees, rent, and support families consistently.
Establishing vendor shelters and offering affordable startup funding would not only boost local incomes but also reduce unemployment and insecurity. Many idle youth would find productive work instead of engaging in theft or gambling.
I therefore appeal to the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Finance and the Presidential Local Content Initiative, to create a special fund for street vendors. Oil companies and NGOs operating in Buliisa should also consider supporting these hardworking Ugandans with startup capital, training, and better working environments.
When street vendors thrive, local economies grow, families are lifted out of poverty, and communities become safer and more self-reliant.
Contacts:
Ikiriza Zephania
Journalist, Biiso FM 97.8 / PLU Publicity Buliisa District
📞 0776 553 173 / 0752 553 173 (WhatsApp)
✉️ izahkfm@gmail.com
