Background

From a historical perspective, vending is one of the oldest occupations that has been held by both women and men on the African continent in general and the Eastern and Horn of Africa region in particular. The growth of Uganda’s informal sector dates to the time of expulsion of Ugandan Asians during Amin’s regime in 1971, which resulted in the dramatic collapse of the industrial sector in the country, accelerated in the 1980s by SAPs. Both events caused people to lose many formal jobs and join the informal sector hence the latter’s expansion (Mitullah 2003). Like other African countries, Uganda’s economic restructuring perpetuated people’s vulnerability to poverty. There was a deficit in public service jobs that had collapsed approximately by 42 percent, pushing many urban dwellers into the informal sector for their survival (Mitullah 2003). Moreover, women’s involvement in the labour market increased to meet bourgeoning demand within the sector (Nyakaana 1999).6

It is estimated that in Uganda, women own 66% of all informal businesses in Kampala and make up a majority of informal workers as well. Uganda’s labour force participation is among the highest in the world, with 84% of the population being economically active. The scarcity of job opportunities in Uganda, combined with the countries relatively large youth population, has led to the emergence of a bulging unemployed or under-employed and under-productive work force of young men and women. Many of them are forced to take up work in the informal sector, in jobs that are precarious and poorly remunerated, with little access to social protection.7 Despite its precarious nature, informal work represents an important lifeline for many of those who participate. The lack of legal protections for workings in the informal economy is a glaring indicator of policy-makers’ ignorance of the value of this sector.

A previous SIHA study conducted in the five administrative divisions of Kampala City, found that 66.7% (majority of the women street vendors interviewed) reported being heads of their households and not having high levels of education whilst also having a considerable number of dependents to support. According to a baseline study conducted by SIHA in preparation for engagement with women street vendors in Kampala, the majority of the respondents highlighted that 85.6% reside in Kampala and 58.5% walked to places of work. In terms of age, 70.6% were below 40 years; 29.1% married/cohabiting, with 70.9% being single, separated or widowed. In addition to this, most women had low education attainment and had a number of dependents, and 71.6% were involved in selling food stuffs.8 Despite the hardships they face, SIHA has found that women street vendors are proud that can meet their own needs and support their household through vending.

However, the presence of the women street vendors and their activities has been in constant confrontation with city authorities over space for business and conditions of work. The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has on several occasions evicted the vendors from the streets claiming they are associated with traffic congestion and make the urban environment untidy. Regrettably, this attitude has paved the way for a pattern of harassment and violence against women street vendors at the hands of law enforcement officers,

6  Margaret Nakibuuka (2015): The Vulnerable Livelihoods of Street Vendors in Uganda: A Case of Kampala Central Division. Institute of Social Studies 7  SIHA: LAUNCH OF THE REPORT AND DOCUMENTARY: THE INVISIBLE LABORERS OF KAMPALA. Available online via https:// sihanet.org/launch-of-the-report-and-documentary-the-invisible-laborers-of-kampala/ 8  SIHA: A SHADOW ECONOMY: THE INVISIBLE LABORERS OF KAMPALA. Available online via https://sihanet.org/a-shadow-economythe-invisible-laborers-of-kampala/