By George Bukenya
Traders under their Umbrella organization of Federation of Uganda Traders Association (FUTA) have attacked URA boss Mr. John Musinguzifor refusing to implement the Presidential directives.
They allege that Mr. Musinguzi is still charging the penalties as opposed to President Museveni’s directive which he gave while meeting the traders at Kololo in April where he directed for the halting of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS) and also waived off all the penalties that had been imposed on traders by URA for violation of the rules of the system.
Lukyamuzi Ibrahim a trader from Mukono dealing in children toys and other house hold items said that he had URA announcements in media calling traders to go with document such that they can be verified and benefit from the Presidential directive of waiving off the EFRIS penalties but he was surprise to be told that he will have to pay half the amount.
“ When i went to URA offices at Nakawa to contact them for a waiver of 13.5 million I was demanded by the taxing authority i was surprised to hear from officials that I am supposed to pay six million (UGX 6M) as part of the penality yet the President directed for waiver of all penalties.’’ Lukyamuzi wondered.
John Kabanda the president of FUTA said that Mr. Musinguzi is doing contrary to the presidential directive and this is going to spark off another country wide closure of shops as a way of dissatisfaction.
He said that URA is handling only those traders who had just been newly registered on the EFRIS system yet the Presidential directive didn’t discriminated he said the system should be halted and all traders with penalties or fines be waived off.
“ All traders should wake up and fight for the liberation of their business. Don’t leave us in the struggle least we shall perish together.’’ Kabanda charged.
“We are not going to give up on our campaign until government listens to us we are ready for anything whether getting imprisoned or even dying because even if we keep quit we will die when we don’t have what to eat or feed our families.’’ He said.
Kabanda also informed reporters that his association, FUTA will mobilize all business people to join the furry if Mr. Musinguzi refuses to implement the presidential directive fully even before the date at which the president promised to meet the traders again.
Godfrey Katongole the president of Kampala Arcade Traders Association (KATA) also said that they won’t bow to government when it comes to implementation of EFRIS system and they have mobilized all their members to save money for and also buy enough food staffs because the next sit down strike will be prolonged.
“ Many businesses have collapsed after starting using the EFRIS system of tax collection for instance medium scale businesses like super markets such as Nakumat, Shoprite are nowhere to be seen. What about how micro businesses will they survive on such system?’’ Katongole wondered.
Katongole said that it seems like the commissioner General is working towards failing government if he has failed to do the work let him resign, he said Kagina was better and during her term there was on such problems.
Meanwhile the Democratic Party vice President who is also a former EALA legislator and a lawyer Hon. Mukasa Mbidde said that President Museveni can’t abandon the EFRIS system because this is an International policy requirement by the donors who asked government to collect at least a certain percentage of the budget finances locally to attract the funding.
“ Traders have got to just learn and live with the EFRIS system because the funders of our National Budget requires government to collect a substantial percentage of finances before they can extend their funding.’’ Mbidde said.