While he and his government are still dealing with young people (Gen Zs) protesting against grand corruption in government and calling for the resignation of Speaker Anita Among, President Yoweri Museveni now has another task at hand: convincing traders in the capital Kampala to call off their shutdown strike over what they call unfair taxation and its collection system, Efris.
As they threatened, several city businessmen have closed their shops in protest. Some were seen outside their closed shops as the strike began on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. The strike remains peaceful.
Ahead of the shop shutdown strike, Kampala Capital City Traders Association (KACITA) spokesperson Issa Ssekitto was aware that there would be divided opinion on whether to go on strike again or not. Thus, Ssekitto urged “those who see sense in closing their shops [to] remain peaceful” and not to “cause chaos.”
He added: “We are responsible citizens. Just lock and go home. We shall not be responsible for anybody who causes problems to the rest.”
Why are traders on a shop shutdown strike?
For a second time, President Yoweri Museveni called off a meeting he had scheduled to discuss the traders’ grievances. The July 31, 2024 date had been chosen after an earlier one that had been expected on June 20 was postponed.
The presidency explained that Kololo Ceremonial Grounds – the planned venue for the meeting – was being renovated. Traders were unhappy that Minsa Kabanda, the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, had communicated President Museveni’s decision to call off the meeting via Whatsapp instead of issuing an official communication signed by the president. Ssekitto said the communication was an act of unprofessionalism and disrespect.
With this manner of communication, and unwilling to endure another postponement, the city traders resolved to close their shops in protests until the president has found time and an alternative venue or mechanism of addressing their concerns.
“People have been anxious. They are losing and eating or their capital because they are no longer working and you are handling this with laxity? We can meet the president anywhere he decides that is not Kololo,” said Ssekitto.
What are the traders’ grievances?
Mainly, the traders are opposed to three things: one, he taxes on imports which they say are high, especially as President Museveni and his government move to promote local industry in their import substitution strategy; two, the rollout of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (Efris) by tax collector Uganda Revenue Authority (URA); and three, foreigners dominating local trade.
“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, wholesalers, retailers and hawkers,” Ssekitto said.
Traders are now expected to meet the president towards the close of this month. Meanwhile, you can read about what the city traders and Museveni agreed on in their last meeting Here.
The traders’ shutdown strike closes a tough month for Museveni and opens a new one. In the last weeks of July 2024, youth protesters started anti-corruption protests which the president has now blamed on funding from foreign agents. Speaker Anita Among has refused to resign and said she still has to rule for another five year term ending in 2031. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
