President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s initiative to uplift roadside market vendors on Friday, 19th September 2025, extended direct support to 957 traders along the Jinja road corridor, with each receiving UGX 100,000. The beneficiaries included Kitigoma, Lugalambo, Najjembe, Namawojjolo and Maroon Markets.
The package was delivered on behalf of the President by Princess Pauline Nassolo, Senior Presidential Advisor-Elderly, and Ms Flora Kabibi, Senior Presidential Assistant on Women’s Affairs.
Princess Nassolo urged the vendors to channel the boost into expanding their businesses rather than diverting it to other uses, stressing that the package is meant to generate income.
She reinforced the President’s wealth creation message, noting that while the government has invested heavily in infrastructure, education, and health, many Ugandans remain poor because they are outside the money economy. She said the President’s goal is to raise household incomes.
Ms Kabibi commended President Museveni for prioritising the poor and called on vendors to support him and NRM flag bearers, saying they are the only leaders committed to advancing the needs of ordinary people.
She reminded the traders that in addition to the roadside vendors’ project, other government programs, such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, remain open to them if they engage their leaders to access the benefits.
The vendors welcomed the President’s support with gratitude.
Peter Bukenya, a trader at Najjembe, said the package would help them escape exploitative money lenders.
Charles Mukuye, chairperson of Namawojjolo Supermarket, thanked the President for additional capital and a Fuso truck to ease transport, though he raised concerns over frequent road accidents that affect their businesses.
James Wandera, chairperson of Maroon Market, hailed the government for extending safe water and additional capital to them.
Launched in 2023, the Roadside Market Vendors Project was designed to uplift informal traders often left out of mainstream government initiatives such as PDM, Emyooga, and NAADS. The program has since enabled thousands of small-scale traders to strengthen their businesses while encouraging them to also tap into broader national development programs.