Minister of State for Kampala Kabuye Kyofatogabye in tie next to him on right is KACITA chairman Musoke Nagenda and on left still next to Minister is John Kabanda New Generation Traders Association chairman
By George Bukenya
Despite plea by the Minister of State for Kampala to traders to halt their three days planned strike which led to the closure of shops in the different cities in Uganda, they have disobeyed him and resolved to continue the demonstration up to Thursday this week as they are waiting to meet the president.
The Minister of State Kabuye Kyofatogabye Topher convened a meeting at Fairway Hotel in Kampala on Wednesday 17th, April, 2024 with an aim of listening to the views of the traders and ask them to open their shop just after the meeting but they declined to so until they meet the president because even if he gave them assurance that they will meet in at State House on Friday this week they weren’t convinced.
In the meeting they gave the minister a document containing ten grievances mostly on taxes and how it’s collected and he to tell them that he had powers to solve seven of them like the penalties on delayed payment, release of confiscated goods but said that others are relating to policy matter like the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution(EFRIS), Taxes charged per kilogram of the commodity specifically on garments.
The traders still remained unconvinced and asked him to put it in writing such that they can present that document when they got to URA to claim their goods which he didn’t committee too thus they told him opening that they will not open their shops until they meet the fountain of honor.
Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) Chairman Dr.Thadeus Musoke Nagenda presented verbally read a four page document to the minister and emphasized that the most important issues are the EFRIS, penalties charged by URA and the Chinese who come as investors and end up in retail trade which vices have driven many local traders out of business.
One of the arcade building on Ben Kiwanuka remained closed
“Heavy taxes have driven away importers of Ugandan goods in the EAC region such as Dr. Cong traders who were importing a bulk of locally produced goods now they have shifted to Kenya something that have negatively impacted on most business including hotels, restaurants and bars,’’ Nagenda said.
He further said, “ we have had several meetings and have not yielded positive results and we had resolved not to attend to any more meeting save that with the president and I am hopeful that this time round it will not be cancelled like it has been in several other occasions.’’ He said.
Councilor Fridah Nalumansi who is representing Nakivubo Parish at Kampala Central Division council and also happens to be a trader openly told the minister that this time round they are tired of `Siasa they want action.
She said that the previous day they had a meeting with the minister of Finance Matia Kasaijja and the commissioner General of URA and the minister asked the commissioner to waive penalties and also halt the EFRIS system but he said the system can’t be halted.
Meanwhile the three executive members of Kampala New Generaton Traders Assoction were arrest yesterday and detained and Katwe Police station and in the meeting at Fairway hotel John Kabanda the Associations chairman asked the minister to order for their release who confiremed that the trio had no case but were only detained on preventive arrest.
The meeting was also attend by the RCCA for Kampala Aminah Lukanga, Kampala Metropolitan Commander Steven Tanui , RPC Kampala Metropolitan South Charles Mushabe and all leaders of other Traders’ Associations