Traders have urged the government to redirect Parish Development Model (PDM) funds towards improving infrastructure and essential services, arguing that better roads, markets, and public facilities would do more to lift them out of poverty than direct cash disbursements.
The call was made during a community engagement meeting organised by Kampala Woman MP Shamim Malende, who is touring parts of the city to hear residents’ concerns and visit families of people detained or missing under politically motivated circumstances.
Traders from Ndeeba, Makindye, Kawempe, and Rubaga said poor roads, inadequate market spaces, and failing drainage systems make it hard to run and grow businesses. Many also complained of repeated evictions from trading areas without being given alternative spaces.
“I have been in business for years, but poor roads and lack of facilities make it difficult to expand. We are often evicted without notice, and when there are no alternative spaces, our livelihoods are severely affected,” said a trader from Ndeeba.
They argued that redirecting PDM funds to infrastructure and services would create a more enabling environment for trade, boost economic activity, and help communities achieve long-term resilience. In her response, Malende promised to raise the traders’ demands in Parliament.
“It’s important that we prioritise investments that create real opportunities for people to thrive. Improving infrastructure and providing basic services are fundamental to lifting our communities out of poverty,” she said.
She also urged Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to end the practice of evicting traders without relocation plans.
“The displacement of traders without giving them alternatives is harmful. KCCA must develop a sustainable plan so traders can operate with dignity and stability,” she said.
Malende’s tour has also included visits to families of individuals who disappeared in November 2020, including Kibuuka and Michael Ssemuddu.
She pledged that National Unity Platform lawyers would continue pursuing justice for victims of enforced disappearances.
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The traders’ demands come amid broader frustrations in Kampala over economic hardship, political repression, and poor service delivery, with calls growing for government to prioritise long-term development over short-term relief schemes.
