The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | A group of five women from Karamoja have been charged before Kampala’s City Hall Court with trading in the City, without a valid licence.
The five who were carrying breast feeding babies were produced before Grade one Magistrate Patrick Tarisuna.
Two of them pleaded guilty to the offence and were sentenced to a caution, plus a suspended sentence of six months that is to hang on their heads, should they be got committing the same offence.
While the three who denied any wrong doing, were sent on remand at Luzira prison until Friday this week, to face another charge of child trafficking, according to State Prosecutor Elijah Ndamurani.
The group was arrested Tuesday afternoon from areas of Mutundwe in Makindye Division a Kampala Suburb in an operation carried out by KCCA law enforcement officers.
They are alleged to have engaged in illegal selling of groundnuts, mangoes and biscuits along the streets.
Dear Independent,
This is a laughable case in Uganda. Honestly it reminds me of the days when we would leave home and move around villages selling our own made products . For someone to say a license to these petty guys, it cant work out. These guys are not even traders. they are looking for what to eat. Should they beg or do “little trading” for survival? Soon those beggars on streets will have to pay begging license.
Any how the vendors on the streets need a special understanding. If you move in the evening and at night, you will witness it where 95% is women all carrying their babies and you wonder where their mean are.They have families and they are on the run all the time because they fear KCCA enforcement team. Iron hand approach will not do for all the time. There is a need for clear management and planning for such persons. Dont push them to USAFI market and assume that buyers will follow them there. They know how markets behave and they are great sales people. Its about earning a living and Kampala dynamics of survival