The Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) former presidential candidate, Mr Frank Bulira Kabinga ,has taken aim at Uganda’s government over the enforcement of its disputed “trade order” targeting kiosks and street vendors across urban centres.
Addressing journalists on Monday 28 April 2026 at his offices in Mengo, questioned the manner in which the exercise was carried out, saying affected traders were being displaced without adequate notice or guidance.
“Enforcement teams were abruptly removing kiosks and goods. The operation was marred with irregularities in enforcement and lacked clarity on the legal framework guiding the crackdown. We want compensation for all affected traders’’, Bulira told the government, adding that his team has embarked on registering affected traders for the next action.
On the temporary suspension of the enforcement of the trade order announced by the Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives David Bahati , Bulira said it was late since the implementation of the order, particularly already affected the small and medium-sized enterprises.
He expressed fears that it would spur the crime rate and prostitution since many young people have been forced out businesses , threatening that if not compensated soon, he would rally traders to protest before the swearing in of leaders.
Bulira has also not spared the recently concluded retreat at Kyankwanzi, where each Member of Parliament reportedly received Shs100 million—a sum that collectively runs into tens of billions of shillings. The explanation was that the funds would support MPs in their legislative roles.
The payout, totaling over Shs40 billion, came at the end of a nine-day retreat on April 14 in Kyankwanzi, with Shs20 million given in cash on the spot and the rest promised soon. Museveni called it support for financially strained legislators facing swearing-in costs in mid-May, amid debts often over Shs900 million each, while urging Parliament to stay corruption-free. Bulira, however, questioned its impact on legislative independence, suspecting taxpayer funds.
‘’When political processes are heavily influenced by money, and when financial incentives continue to shape behaviour at the highest levels, the fight against corruption begins to look less like a turning point and more like a recurring performance’’, Bulira warned.
Bulira also used the same platform to condemn the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, describing it as unnecessary, duplicative, and potentially harmful to Uganda’s democratic and economic environment, adding it was primarily introduced to target him and Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi who has been getting foreign support for building political grounds.
Bulira said he is mobilizing lawmakers across party lines to resist the Bill , arguing that it threatens governance, human rights, media freedom, and economic empowerment.
Bulira also condemned what he termed as ‘illegal detention’ of political prisoners including Dr Besigye and Hajji Lutale , without trial or evidence, as a further violation of their rights.
He urged opposition members of parliament to snub swearing in as a protest against what he termed as violation of human rights in the country.
‘’The lack of due process, abuse of power, and violation of human rights have now, unfortunately, become distinguishing characteristics of our justice system. The Ugandan judiciary has, overtime, become a passive spectator to the egregious violation of civil liberties instead of being an active participant in checking the impunity by the executive and state organs’’, Bulira said.
He said the judiciary should be the first and last shield against impunity. ‘’And while the struggle for judicial independence is ongoing in many countries, it should be no excuse to keep Uganda and all institutions under state capture’’.
Recently, there have been increasing calls on the government of Uganda to intervene directly into the petroleum market including by way of setting caps to control prices of petroleum products.
As fuel shortage hits Kampala, triggering price hikes , Bulura noted that many are scrambling for fuel after an insufficiency that first affected upcountry stations and spread to the capital, triggering long queues and growing frustration among transport operators.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni downplayed concerns over high fuel prices for motorists, saying those who cannot afford it should stay at home and that he is not concerned about people travelling for leisure, including to nightclubs.
Bulira has responded , accusing the president of being out of touch with everyday economic realities.
