Business owners are voicing their concerns over taxes and government policies that are affecting their businesses negatively. President Museveni is set to meet with the leaders of these striking traders to discuss their grievances. The strike, which began in Kampala a week ago, has now spread to other regions.
In response to rallying calls from the Kampala City Traders’ Association Uganda (KACITA Uganda) and the Federation of Uganda Traders’ Association (FUTA), businesses in Kampala have shut down. Some owners found their shops locked by arcade owners.
KACITA, originally formed as an umbrella group for traders in the capital, now holds country-wide membership, giving it greater influence. Its chairman, Dr. Thadeus Nagenda, stated that State House requested Covid tests ahead of talks with President Museveni.
KACITA outlined various complaints in a petition to Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, including objections to the Uganda Revenue Authority’s (URA) digital invoicing and receipting tax system enforcement.
While some regional cities like Fort Portal, Mbarara, and Mbale saw traders abstaining from civil disobedience, others like Masaka saw strikes resume due to unmet promises of government intervention.
In Mukono, major businesses remained closed, with concerns raised about the suffocating impact of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS) on their operations.
Despite the strike, some businesses, like butcheries, opened partially to remove perishable goods from refrigeration. Others, like those at Kisekka Auto Centre, remained closed, awaiting the release of retained containers by URA.
Individual traders expressed frustration over the situation, with concerns about high taxes and the inability to operate under current conditions.
Leaders from various traders’ associations called for sustained strikes until their demands are addressed. They highlighted issues such as high fines for EFRIS errors and unfair competition from foreign traders.
Business operations in different regions varied, with some areas largely unaffected by the strike due to loan obligations or pending engagements with the government.
Traders across the country presented a list of grievances, including outdated tax thresholds, high VAT rates, and prohibitive compliance costs for EFRIS. They also criticized unfair competition and unprofessional conduct by URA staff.
