The Minister of Local Government Raphael Magyezi, has announced the resumption of nationwide enforcement of the trade order immediately, following cabinet approval on Monday.
“Cabinet at it’s sitting yesterday, the 27th, April 2026, agreed and resolved that the implementation of the trade order should continue as earlier planned” Magyezi said.
Min Magyezi who made the revelation while addressing journalists at the Uganda media centre on Tuesday, revealed that the recent halt to the exercise was in response to a group of petitioners including Born Again churches, asking for more time to improve their structures.
“I think previously in Parliament, we informed the house that we had suspended the trade order and that was because we had had a meeting with some petitioners, that is the leadership of Born Again and Pentecostal churches in Uganda, as well as the Federation of Uganda Traders Association” he said.
He added, “They had come to us with a number of concerns, we listened to them and they asked for a little more time”.
Min Magyezi said cabinet agreed that specifically, the demolition of churches be suspended to allow the churches time to improve their structures, to get their building plans approved.
Min Magyezi noted that the Ministry is going strengthen the policy in the next enforcement by stepping up community sensitisation to make sure that everyone is on board.
“Set up an inter-ministerial task force which will work with representatives of all stakeholders, such as churches, vendors and traders, for proper implementation the trade order. Work out solutions to ensure that the people who have not yet found space in the formal markets or in the designated trade areas are reassigned to new places to work from and encourage Local Governments to establish weekly market days in convenient places for the traders” he said.
On Friday last week, the State Minister for Trade Hon David Bahati, announced the suspension of the enforcement of the trade order across the country following complaints from traders, religious leaders and the Inter-Religious Council.
Bahati noted that the suspension of the trade order until June will allow for further consultations on the implementation of the trade order, however Minister Magyezi’s Tuesday announcement means the enforcement is set to resume immediately.
