Court Sets May 8 for Ruling in Entebbe Traders’ Landmark Case Against Municipal Council

KAMPALA, Uganda – The Civil Division of the High Court has set May 8, 2026, as the date to deliver its ruling in a protracted legal battle over the ownership of lock-ups and stalls at the newly redeveloped Kitooro Taxi Park in Entebbe Municipality.

Justice Acellam Collins, presiding over the case, issued a clear timeline for the parties involved. He directed the appellants, Entebbe Municipal Council, to file their written submissions by April 17, while the respondents—the affected traders and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)—have until April 24 to file theirs.

“We shall mention this case again on May 8, 2026, at 9 o’clock, which is enough time for filing submissions and rejoinders,” Justice Acellam stated.

The legal dispute stems from the municipal council’s alleged violation of a 2017 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the registered vendors of the old Kitooro Taxi Park. The traders claim the MOU guaranteed them first priority for lock-ups following the park’s redevelopment.

The new Kitooro Taxi Park, which cost over Shs 10 billion to construct under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Programme (USMID), opened in January last year with a total of 249 shops. However, the original traders allege that during the allocation exercise, priority was given to municipal technical staff and political officeholders, who reportedly registered the stalls using pseudonyms. This, they say, has left the new taxi park nearly desolate.

After failing to secure a resolution through a petition to Mayor Fabrice Rulinda in March 2025, the traders took their case to the Equal Opportunities Commission. On April 2, 2026, the EOC ruled that the municipal council had deviated from the MOU, thereby undermining the traders’ equal opportunities based on their social and economic standing.

The municipal council subsequently appealed the EOC’s ruling to the High Court, setting up a direct legal confrontation with both the commission and the traders.

John Mugabi, Director of Action for Liberty and Economic Development (ALED), which has been supporting the traders, said the upcoming ruling will have significant implications.

“The ruling will set a precedent that will ensure traders’ rights are protected by institutions, to enable them to trade freely and fairly in the future to enhance their livelihoods,” Mugabi said outside court.

The case has previously drawn the attention of the central government. On April 9, 2025, the Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, issued a one-week ultimatum to Entebbe councillors who had allegedly allocated themselves lock-ups, ordering them to vacate for the rightful vendors.

“If they don’t remove themselves, you remove them and give them the bill… Leaders, councillors and technical officials don’t involve yourselves in these lock-ups. It is conflict of interest for you to be the supervisor and you become the owner or the operator of these things,” Minister Magyezi said at the time, warning against using pseudo names or relatives to hide ownership.

All parties now await the May 8 ruling to learn the final legal determination on the fate of the Kitooro Taxi Park shops.