Factors Affecting the Incomes of Street Vendors: A Case Study of Nansana East Zone, Wakiso District

Abstract

Street vending has numerous factors that lead to its existence and the driving factors that ensure its success. The activities carried out by the street vendors contribute to their livelihood through the incomes earned by those engaged in street vending and other salaried earners who are paid by the employers or the street vendors themselves. Though street vendors earn a living from the different activities, they are faced with a number of challenges such heavy rain falls, sunshine which at times leads to destruction and spoilage of their merchandize. There are raising conflicts concerning the legality of street vending in Uganda due to the inability to recognize it as a contribution to the National income. This study is based in Nansana East Zone in Wakiso district, Kampala city, Uganda. The study used quantitative design, cluster and purposive sampling in the collection of data and analysis was done using ANOVA and Pearson correlation. The study found that there were more females engaged in street vending than males taking a percentage of 56% and 44% respectively. According to the age distribution, more street vendors are between 18 and 35 years. More respondents were found to have attained to secondary level, married and practiced Islamic religion. Since the study focused on the factors affecting the incomes of the street vendors, number of dependents being one of it, the maximum number of dependents observed was 14 and minimum being zero. With the tax payment system, 79% pay taxes and 73% agreed with the tax payment system and procedures. The other factors considered with street vendors were products sold, time period of work, place of work and the main source of income. With the findings, among the objectives set, gender and dependents under the respondent’s care were found to be significant and also the main source of income of the respondents was observed to be significant. The conclusions and recommendations were served basing on the findings obtained after the analysis. The recommendations were relating to the Nansana Municipal Council, street vendors and further researchers.