By George Bukenya
In a meeting held at Holiday Express Hotel by Federation of Uganda Traders Associations (FUTA) in Kampala, traders voted to have a country wide closure of their shops commencing on July 15th before meeting with President Museveni at Kololo saying that that will compel the government to adhere to their demands.
John Kabanda the president of FUTA said that president Museveni just belittled and mocked them at State house and its seems he is not ready to listen and work on the unfair and unjust treatment of traders when it’s as regards to the tax regimes and collections.
He attacked KACITA leaders whom he labeled as being hypocrites because they were very much aware that the June 20th meeting with president Museveni wouldn’t take place as planned but they didn’t come out to take the traders.
Kabanda said that traders are low income earners who can’t invest in industries because such huge investments need very huge capital and KACITA leaders in their proposals are also pushing for that yet isn’t feasible at all.
He also told his members that he needed time to mobilize all traders from the whole country so as to alert them about the issue of closing down business to show cause and to make government and masses to feel it such that government can be compelled to listen and work on their needs.
“ If President Museveni has failed, he should resign and leave fresh blood to come and take over leadership because he has on several occasions failed to solve our challenges he only minds about milking us.’’ Kabanda said.
“ We don’t want to hear anything like EFRIS because it’s a poor system of tax collection and we are not against paying taxes, the levying of taxes on garments basing on weight should also be abandoned,’’ He said.
Nangoobi Sylivia a trader in Kikuubo said president Museveni is telling them to diversify and venture into agriculture yet it also require capital if someone is doing it for commercial purposes.
“ I am a trader and also venture in agriculture but I pay shs 150,000 for ploughing every acre of land and between 80,000-100,000 for weeding my crops this is a clear and after harvesting the price for the crop fluctuates down words and I make huge losses causing uncertainties yet in trade you can be certain even if you are paying taxes.’’ Nangoobi said.
She also reasoned that Uganda as a country at the moment can’t stop importing goods because there are very few industries that make products and even others products imported can’t be manufactured locally so the president’s idea of stopping completely substituting imports with locally made goods will not work in the short run.
Agatha Maali also a trader in Kikuubo decried on government aim of killing their employment opportunities they created themselves yet the country is facing a very serious challenge of unemployment especially among the youth.
“ We are people with very low capital which range between shs 2,000,000 to 10,000,000 and can’t afford to invest in factories as the president is advocating. Factories needs at least shs 500 million and above.’’ Maali said.
She also said, instead of levying heavy taxes which have ruined many self-employment jobs, government should embark and put more efforts in the establishment of industries that will even help curb down the rampant law offending like robbing of people in broad day light.