Kasese Night Economy Grows as Security, Lighting Boost Trade

What the report says

Kasese Municipality in western Uganda is seeing more commercial activity after dark, according to Nile Post, as better roads, street lighting and security have encouraged businesses to stay open later. Restaurants, bars, hotels, pharmacies, supermarkets, fuel stations and transport operators are now serving customers into the night in areas including Nyakasanga, Crescent Road and Stanley Street. The shift marks a change from a town where many businesses once closed before sunset.

Mayor Chance Kahindo said the changes are helping traders gain confidence and are also contributing to local revenue. The municipality has introduced night parking fees and collections from licensed nighttime vendors as part of that revenue drive. Residents interviewed by the publisher said the nighttime trade is useful because it gives people access to goods and services beyond normal working hours.

At the same time, several residents and business operators said the gains are limited to a few central areas. They called for more street lighting, stronger patrols and wider infrastructure improvements so that the night economy can spread beyond the town centre. In the report, local residents said poor lighting and security still discourage some traders from opening late.

Rwenzori East Police spokesperson ASP Elly Maate said security operations are being rolled out gradually with local leaders, with protection of lives and property described as the main priority. The broader significance is that Kasese’s nighttime economy is becoming part of the municipality’s push to expand revenue and commercial activity, but its growth appears to depend on continued investment in safety and infrastructure.