President Yoweri Museveni has defended the government’s ongoing trade order and crackdown on roadside vending, saying public spaces must be used for their intended purposes just as the human body functions according to a natural design.
Speaking during the reading of the 2026/27 national budget, Museveni addressed concerns over the eviction of roadside vendors from streets and highways across the country. He questioned why some people choose to conduct business in areas not designated for trade, arguing that such practices disrupt order and public safety.
Using a vivid analogy, the President compared roadside trading to a person attempting to eat through their ears or nose instead of the mouth.
He criticized political leaders who support roadside vending, describing such positions as misguided and harmful to efforts aimed at maintaining order in urban areas.
The President also renewed his call for the protection of wetlands and forests, warning against continued encroachment on natural ecosystems. He emphasized that wetlands serve a critical role in water conservation and environmental sustainability.
“The swamp is for water. It is not for settlement or farming. It is a natural resource that has sustained our people for millions of years,” he said.
Museveni noted that forests, wetlands and grasslands played a key role in supporting communities long before modern infrastructure and technology emerged. He warned that destroying these ecosystems could have serious environmental and public health consequences.
The President further suggested that the emergence of some diseases could be linked to human activities that invade wildlife habitats, arguing that increased encroachment into forests and wetlands disrupts natural ecological balances.
His remarks come amid continued government efforts to restore wetlands, protect forest reserves and enforce urban trade regulations aimed at improving public order, environmental conservation and road safety.
The trade order, which has seen the removal of vendors from roadsides in several parts of the country, remains a subject of debate, with supporters citing the need for order and safety while critics raise concerns about the livelihoods of affected traders.
