Traders while at Kololo in their first meeting with President Museveni
By George Bukenya
Traders failed to come to a common stand as regards to implementing a sit down strike through closing down their shops and outlets days before their second meeting with President Museveni.
While yesterday some traders under the umbrella organization of Federation of Uganda Traders Association (FUTA) decided to close down beginning on 20th June 2024 when the president decided to meet them again at Kololo independence grounds, Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) who also gather at Royal Complex building today resolved to wait for the next meeting with the president and the out of that meeting will inform their next step.
The spokesperson of KACITA, Isa Sekitto said that traders agreed unanimously not to engage in any sit down strike until they meet the President for the second time as requested by President Museveni after which they discuss a way forward basing on the outcome of the meeting scheduled to occur on 20th June 2024.
“Our members have resolved that we should first honor the president’s second meeting and see the outcome then we will decide the way forward depending on the result.’’ Sekitto told reporters.
Sekitto further said, ‘’our members have asked us to unit with other traders’ associations and organizations so as to have a harmonized start before we meet the president again.’’
He also said that they are working on a comprehensive document that they will present to President on the D-day and among the issues that have resurfaced is the EFRIS and its resultant penalties and effects on businesses, Chinese who engage in retailing, taxes charged in kilograms on garments which they contravene the international law and policies on trade.
URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi in blue suit at Kololo in the traders meeting with the President
Traders from KACITA also resolved that any organization or Association that declines to unit with them so as to have a harmonized start will be isolated.
Dr. Mukoke Nagenda the chairman of KACITA said that there are meetings that are ongoing between leaders of traders, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Uganda Revenue Authority such that by the time they meet the president they have aspects agreed regarding their challenges agreed upon.
He also said they are lobbying MPs also to join them in this struggle because the salaries an allowance they get come from taxes paid by the business community who are operating different businesses.
However, he also revealed that there are some MPs who are corrupt and have selfish tendency because they were asking him a bribe in order to push a gender of traders on the floor of parliament something he declined to adhere to.
“ Some members of parliament had asked KACIT to pay them some money to a tune of UGX 2M each but we refused because this is a national challenge it also affects them.’’ Dr. Musoke said.
In a related development, president Museveni have ordered security organizations to initiate investigations to find out whether there are some traders’ Associations and Organizations that are being used by the opposition politicians to push their political agenda.
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