Federation of Uganda Traders Association President John Kabanda center and his secretary general Moreen Kiirya at Holiday Express Hotel Hotel.
By George Bukenya
Traders through their umbrella organization the Federation of Traders Association (FUTA) have vowed to resume a sit down strike for two months if the outcome of 20th June meeting doesn’t yield to positive results as far as Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS)is concerned.
This position was reached upon in a meeting convened by the leaders of FUTA at Holiday Express Hotel in Kampala on 14th May, 2024.
John Kabanda warned traders to save money for stoking food that will take them for at least two months because he expects the next sit down strike to be massive and it will be prolonged a minimum of two months.
“If we managed to go through Covid-19 period yet we had not prepared for it, now if we prepare for our cause I think we can really manage it.” Kabanda said.
He said this time round they will also talk to those in the transport sector to join them because what is pressing traders also affects them as they are the ones transporting their goods.
Some traders after the first meeting with the president vowed never to attend any more meetings called by the fountain of honor because they didn’t see any positive results in the one they attended.
However in the Meeting at Holiday Express they resolved to attend in big numbers and show their concerns about EFRIS and the negative impact of heavy levy on commodities they trade in.
Sylvia Nangoobi a trader in Kikuubo argued her fellow traders no to boycott the June 20th meeting that she was optimistic that it will yield positive results however like in first one at least they got some relief because the goods for traders that were impounded by URA were unconditionally released and the EFRIS penalties were also waived.
“We shouldn’t boycott the coming meeting, we just need to attend in huge numbers and show him the negative consequences on our businesses and why it’s should be abandoned by government.” Nangoobi said.
Some of the traders who attended FUTA meeting at Holiday Express meeting
Nangoobi also said that the so called Chinese investors are pretenders because they hide in manufacturing yet they actually come her to trade. She said they copy what Ugandans are doing they go back to china duplicate it and bring it back then they deceive the president that they are making it locally.
Nakibira Hadja said that the president has not known and understood the needs of traders that is why he hasn’t responded well to their complaints he cautioned Leader of FUTA not to involve politicians in their fight against unfair taxes and the systems of collection.
“We want government to take 10 years studying this EFRIS system because its ruining small businesses otherwise we are going to become slaves in our own country because of the exorbitant taxes. ” Nakibira stated.
In last meeting some traders moved out of the meeting as a sign of dissatisfaction with the president’s speech when he said that EFRIS is here to stay and they just hard to learn how to use and stay with it.
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