What more needs to be done by the government?

Another program instituted by the government to empower women in the informal sector is the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation (Emyooga). In the Emyooga program, the MicroFinance Support Center (MSF) transfers a grant of between 30-50 million UGX directly into a SACCO account, which member associations can borrow from at an 8-12 percent interest rate for various enterprises in the informal sector. Each eligible member, depending on the constitution of the association, pays 20,000 UGX in two equal amounts for membership and annual subscription, and each association in turn buys shares from its SACCO at 150,000 UGX. By April 2021, Emyooga SACCOs’ savings had grossed 9.9 billion UGX, while the government’s grants amounted to a total of 200 billion UGX allocated to 6,394 constituencybased SACCOs in 347 constituencies of 146 districts and cities.59

Women market vendors in Arua district have benefited from the Emyooga program. “For us in our area (Driwala Market), the program of Emyooga, we have many groups around here (who are registered). They have benefited. However, the money is being got at the district (headquarters).”60

However, while these governmentsponsored programs are aimed at uplifting women in the informal sector, female market and street vendors were not directly consulted in the processes feeding into the development of these programs. This is closely linked with the programs’ inability to meet the social, and financial, needs of women market and street vendors.

59 How Emyooga scheme works.’ (Daily Monitor, 2021) https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/howemyooga-scheme-works-3415992 Accessed on July 20, 2022 60 Jane Akwero, market vendor, Driwala Market, Arua City For the street vendors who were evicted from the streets of Kampala City, a roadmap is being charted between the Kampala Vendors and Hawkers Association and KCCA to designate specific places where they can work. The roadmap will stipulate where a street vendor will be located, what he or she will sell, and what amount of tax he or she will have to pay to KCCA. The government has agreed to provide KCCA with funds to procure land in each of the five divisions of the city where street vendors will be hosted. So far, land has been procured in Kalerwe and Kibuye areas of the city.

“We thank the government, because when the (Kampala Vendors and) Hawkers Association met with KCCA and the Minister for Kampala and introduced a roadmap and work plan (on how vendors should work in the city), they liked the plan. Now, we are seeing the fruits because hawkers will be allowed to work in the taxi parks. Although it has not yet been made official, we hope it will be operationalized soon.”61

“We have land. For our land in Kalerwe, the landlords have been paid. We are waiting for the contractors so that they can start the work. We have another piece of land in Kibuye, so we are struggling to see where we can put those vendors who were swept away from the streets.”62

In order to help female market and street vendors get back on their feet, we urge the Government of Uganda take the following measures in these areas:

61 Asina Zawedde, street vendor, Wandegeya, Kampala City 62 Molly Wambi, street vendor, Kamwokya, Kampala City