The opposition Democratic Party (DP) has asked the government of Uganda to listen and solve the challenges faced by the traders in Kampala as early as possible before they (politicians) join them to strike and save the country’s economy.
According to Ismail Kirya, the President of Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) and the acting Spokesperson of DP, traders should continue with the strike until their challenges are addressed by those concerned. He said that the government should handle the traders’ challenges with a lot of care and wisdom because business is pivotal to running the economy.
“We therefore call upon the government to invite the traders to a round table to come up with mechanisms to solve their grievances because the government is losing a lot of revenue as the strike intensifies,” Kirya said.
He said that the government is going to face a huge loss of revenue compared to what it would give to the traders to open up their businesses.
He added that business has a multiplying effect, stating that the government should dare think that it’s only those with shops suffering.
According to Kirya, even the food sellers in the city, the middlemen, and luggage carriers, among others, will feel the itch, and this will make the city more of a hell to live in.
“That means at the end of the day, different categories of people will join the traders to strike and attack you in your beautiful houses looking for a living,” he said.
According to John Bosco Kamoga, the upcoming aspirant for the Kampala Lord Mayor seat, traders should be given a chance to meet with President Museveni and the URA top bosses to present their grievances, or else politicians will soon join the strike.
“President Museveni, don’t entice us as politicians to join the traders to strike, though we have already joined them indirectly. URA should try to close the gap between the Traders’ Association (KACITA) and other ministries concerned,” Kamoga said.
Kirya appealed to traders to continue striking peacefully and professionally, just as they have done, stating that it’s the only language that the government can hear and address their challenges without unnecessary damage.
Currently, a number of businesses housed in malls and arcades in Kampala city are still closed in protest against the unfair taxation policy of Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solutions (EFRIS).
