The Kampala City Trader’s Association (KACITA) has issued an ultimatum to the government, giving them a 20-day deadline to address the concerns of traders, or face the consequence of shop closures.
Since September of the previous year, traders have voiced grievances regarding several issues, including high taxes, the implementation of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS) policy, and the imposition of a per-kilogram levy on clothing items.
Last month, following persistent complaints, officials from the Uganda Revenue Authority and the Finance ministry, led by Permanent Secretary Ramathan Ggoobi, engaged with the traders’ leadership to discuss these matters, offering assurances of prompt resolution.
However, dissatisfaction persists among traders, as articulated by John Nagenda Musoke, the chairman of KACITA, and spokesperson Isa Ssekitto during a press briefing at the association’s offices in Kampala. They expressed frustration over the delayed response from the government regarding the promised action.
Ssekitto disclosed that government officials had met with the president to discuss the traders’ concerns, yet no formal communication has been received regarding the outcomes of this meeting.
In a stern warning, Ssekitto stated that if the government fails to address the traders’ grievances by April 15, 2024, they will have no recourse but to initiate a strike.
Ssekitto also mentioned that the issue of unregistered foreign businesses, particularly those operated by Chinese nationals, has been raised in Cabinet discussions, with traders awaiting official resolutions on the matter.
