Uganda, March 8 -- The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives stopped urban and local government authorities from granting licences to foreigners who deal in hawking.

In a February 2 letter, Ms Geraldine Ssali, the permanent secretary of the ministry, wrote to all local and urban government authorities informing them that they should cease granting such hawking licences.

"The ministry has received various complaints from various stakeholders on some local and urban authorities licensing non-citizens to do hawking business. The Trade Licensing Act Cap 101 prohibits licensing of non-citizen as hawkers," Ms Ssali letter reads in part.

"The purpose of this communication, therefore, is to clarify this matter and request you to ensure ...