Kampala Traders Reopen Shops After Dialogue With Premier

Kampala traders reopened their shops on Thursday following a successful meeting with government officials, effectively bringing an end to their two-day strike. 

The strike, led by traders under the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), was staged on Tuesday to protest against what they termed as unfair foreign competition in retail trade and exorbitant taxes, particularly on garments.

On Wednesday, a meeting between traders and Prime Minister Robinah Nabanjja at the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) was temporarily disrupted after news emerged that 18 traders had been arrested for allegedly turning violent and throwing stones at police officers during the protests.

Angered by the arrests, the traders stormed Buganda Road Court to demand their colleagues’ release. Later in the afternoon, 17 of the 18 detained traders were freed, and under the leadership of Issa Sekitto, the acting KACITA Chairperson, they rejoined the discussions with the Prime Minister, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), and UBOS officials.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister assured the disgruntled city traders that she would take their concerns to Cabinet within a month for further consideration. She also tasked URA officials, led by Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki, to address container cargo clearance delays within one week. Traders later confirmed that they had called off the strike and reopened their shops while waiting for government action.

Nsubuga Richard, a trader in men’s garments on Nakivubo Street, said one of their key demands was the release of more than 60 containers stuck at Nakawa stores. “URA accepted in front of the Prime Minister Nabbanja that the containers will be released in a week. But we also want them to stop their silly games of releasing the containers, only to send UNBS to re-hold them again in the name of quality,” Nsubuga said.

He added that within a month, they expect the government to present tax and trade policy reforms before Parliament. “Nabanjja promised us she’ll raise our issues in the next cabinet meeting and then take them to Parliament. We’ll wait and see. We don’t have high hopes, though; we know these taxes are imposed on us because most traders vote for the opposition, which annoys the government. They can’t say it out loud, but it’s the truth. This is politics at play,” Nsubuga stated.

Business communities across Uganda have staged several protests in recent years, largely over government tax policies. While these often end in meetings with President Museveni at State House or Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, traders say the promises made are rarely fulfilled.