Flood-Affected Traders Threaten to Camp at PM’s Office Over Compensation

What the report says

Traders affected by floods in Uganda say they plan to sleep at the Office of the Prime Minister from Wednesday, October 28, if the government does not release compensation they say President Yoweri Museveni promised them. According to Nile Post, the traders claim their businesses and property were destroyed by flooding and that they are seeking Shs 20 billion in compensation.

The group says it has not received the money despite completing the steps they were asked to follow. Shifra Namatovu, chairperson of Farmers Centre and one of the affected traders, said they had met the required conditions but were still waiting for payment. The traders also said an earlier two-week waiting period had already passed without any disbursement.

They intend to carry mattresses to the office of Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and remain there until their concerns are addressed. The traders say their demonstration will be peaceful and have asked security officers not to use force.

The dispute matters because it highlights the strain on flood-hit businesses and the pressure on government to respond to compensation claims. More broadly, flood damage and delayed relief payments are common sources of tension after disasters, especially for small traders whose livelihoods depend on quick recovery.