The National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) party has urged traders not to be deterred from demanding tax reductions ahead of their meeting with President Museveni on May 7, 2024.

This statement was made during the party’s weekly press release that took place on May 6, 2024, at the party headquarters in Rubaga, Kampala.

The party Spokesperson, Moses Matovu, urged traders not to give into President Museveni’s lectures but rather to continue demanding the reduction of the so-high taxes.

“President Museveni is so good at lecturing, but nothing gets done on the ground, so we urge the traders not to be bribed into allowing his terms because, at the end of the day, too much tax will also affect the public at large,” he said.

The spokesperson added that the government should deal with investors and manufacturers and not allow them to meddle in distribution and retail sales.

“The government should draft a law that prevents manufacturers from retailing and selling their own products. The law should also make sure that the distributors, wholesalers, and retail sellers are natives of Uganda in order for the citizens to benefit from trade,” Matovu added.

President Museveni is set to meet the Kampala traders on May 7, 2024, for the second time after having the first meeting on April 19, 2024, with leaders of traders, where he directed the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to suspend any penalties associated with failure to use the EFRIS system for a month as more consultations are being done.