Police warns striking Kampala traders
Police warns striking Kampala traders
By Our reporter
KAMPALA Police has told striking traders to refrain from as authorities find solutions to their grievances.
Traders against a proposed tax collection system have resumed their protests by shutting down their Kampala businesses from Wednesday July 31, 2024, unless President Museveni re-schedules a twice deferred meeting with the group to look into its grievances.
“Traders closed until the president does not come out and talk to us using any valid media,” they said on Wednesday, under their umbrella Kampala Capital City Traders Association (KACITA).
The traders remain opposed to what they described as “high taxes on imports” and implementation of Uganda Revenue Authority’s Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (Efris).
“People want answers to all the three issues; EFRIS, taxation and the foreign traders that are dealing in petty businesses at the detriment of Ugandans- whereby they (foreigners) become the factory, manufactures, wholesaler, retailer and hawker,” KACITA spokesperson Issa Ssekitto emphasized.
However in a press statement issued Wednesday July 31, 2024, Assistant Commissioner of Police Rusoke Kituuma Public Relations Officer, Uganda Police Force they are keenly monitoring activities within the business community.
“In light of the postponement of the meeting between traders and His Excellency the President, we have observed that some traders operating in the Central Business District (CBD) of Kampala have opted to close their shops in Protest, while others continue operating as usual. We encourage all traders to remain calm as they wait the appropriate time for meeting with His Excellency the President,” he said.
Adding, “We wish to reassure traders to keep their business open. The Uganda Police Force is resolutely committed to providing them protection and security.”
The development comes after the presidency yet again called off a planned July 31 meeting with the traders, citing ongoing renovations of the intended venue- Kololo Grounds in Kampala.
“It is not the cancellation that was defective but the way it was done. It is very unprofessional and disrespectful that the Kampala minister (Minsa Kabanda) can use a WhatsApp voice note to stop a long-awaited presidential engagement with the business community in Uganda,” Ssekito remarked.
He added: “This is a national matter. We expected a formal communication from the president.”
Wednesday’s meeting had been scheduled after the Ugandan leader missed another similar arrangement on June 20.
“People have been anxious. They are losing and eating or their capital because they are no longer working and you’re handling this with laxity? We can meet the president anywhere he decides that’s not Kololo,” Ssekitto told journalists in Kampala on Tuesday.
The traders’ strike coincides with a planned return of the March to Parliament anti-corruption protests which organizers hinted could take place on July 31.
Kabanda backed her choice to inform traders of the postponement using a voice note saying she “could not write an official letter during the weekend.”
“The president does not lie. He will meet them towards the end of August,” she added.
Uganda’s June tax collections suffered a Shs165.6billion shortfall largely blamed by government on the April 2024 traders’ strike in the East African country.
“We urge traders to remain as peaceful as possible as they close shops. We don’t cause chaos…we lock and go home. We shall not be responsible for anybody who causes problems to the rest,” Ssekito highlighted.
According to the ministry of finance, the strike directly impacted on tax returns as the country obtained Shs3.030 trillion against the Shs3.381 trillion target for the month of June.
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