The Ministry of Trade has embarked on registration of foreigners engaged in petty trade in Kampala.

According to a statement by the trade minister Amelia Kyambadde, the move follows numerous complaints from the business community over the reported influx of foreigners involved in petty businesses.

Some of the complaints included, the growing number of foreigners operating unlicensed businesses, abuse of the investment regulation requiring a minimum investment capital of at least US 1000 dollars.

The pseudo investors are also accused of dominating the entire distribution chain in the manufacturing sector, wholesale, retail and hawking which she said is an uncompetitive practice.

The statement also indicates that consultations with other stake holders  including Kampala Capital City Authority, Internal Affairs Ministry and Uganda Investment Authority were held and it was agreed that an inter-ministerial approach be taken to address the matter.

The two weeks exercise will begin with the greater Kampala including Wakiso and Mukono districts and later be rolled out to other local and urban authorities.

The ministry however explains that the exercise is not meant to witch-hunt foreigners but rather create trade order in accordance with legal provisions of the Trade license Act.