By Yusuf Obbo
Traders and landlords in Iganga Municipality have protested against the new tax enforcement operations led by Town Clerk Majerani Luboyera, accusing municipal authorities of imposing unfair tax demands, locking business premises at night and conducting assessments without adequate consultation.
The protest prompted the Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Iganga, Luwangula Baker, together with security heads, to direct a temporary suspension of the enforcement operations and order the reopening of locked buildings for three days as the business community awaits a meeting with municipal leadership next week.
The directive is intended to provide room for dialogue between the municipal authorities and the aggrieved traders and landlords, who say they are willing to pay legitimate taxes but are dissatisfied with the manner in which the new enforcement exercise is being conducted.
The protesters accuse the municipality of introducing tax demands without adequate sensitisation, issuing insufficient guidance to business owners and assessing commercial premises without physically visiting them.
They argue that the use of padlocks to close shops and buildings at night has heightened tensions and disrupted business activities, leaving property owners and tenants worried about their livelihoods.
Tumushabe Eva, popularly known as Mama Ashavin, said the business community was not opposed to paying taxes but wanted the municipality to adopt a transparent and lawful approach.
She questioned why enforcement was being carried out before traders had been adequately informed about the taxes and the basis of the assessments.
According to Ashavin, locking business premises at night without proper notice was worrying traders and landlords, who want municipal authorities to engage them before taking enforcement action.
She called for fair assessments, proper communication and dialogue between the business community and municipal leadership, arguing that effective revenue collection should not come at the expense of traders’ livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Nkwanga Hussain, the chairperson representing central business areas, has criticised the approach taken by the new Town Clerk, accusing him of failing to listen to traders and introducing tax demands without adequate public education.
Nkwanga said many business owners were dissatisfied with the assessment process and the manner in which enforcement was being carried out.
“A man who doesn’t listen to people he wants to get taxes from, he has introduced taxes to people without educating them. He is locking shops at night and several traders are complaining. He is assessing shops based in his office without reaching the ground. People are not happy with how he is doing his work,” Nkwanga said.
The traders maintain that physically inspecting business premises and engaging owners would help establish fair tax assessments and reduce disputes between taxpayers and municipal authorities.
They are calling for greater transparency in determining tax liabilities, adequate sensitisation before enforcement and an opportunity to challenge assessments they consider inaccurate or unfair.
The business community also wants municipal leaders to establish a clear communication channel through which traders and landlords can raise complaints and obtain explanations about their tax obligations.
Following the protest, Assistant RDC Luwangula Baker and security leaders directed that the enforcement operations be temporarily halted, with locked buildings ordered to remain open for three days as consultations are awaited.
The RDC appealed to traders and landlords to remain calm, assuring them that their grievances would be presented for discussion with municipal leadership at a meeting scheduled for the following week.
The temporary suspension is expected to create an opportunity for both sides to address the disputed tax assessments, enforcement procedures and concerns over the treatment of business owners.
For the traders, the immediate demand is for the municipality to adopt a more consultative approach that allows them to understand their tax obligations before enforcement measures are taken.
The dispute has placed revenue collection and the relationship between municipal authorities and the business community at the centre of debate in Iganga Municipality.
As the parties prepare for further engagement, traders and landlords say they want a tax system that is transparent, fairly administered and based on proper assessments, while municipal authorities are expected to explain the procedures guiding the ongoing enforcement exercise.
The outcome of the planned meeting is likely to determine how the municipality proceeds with tax enforcement and whether a lasting agreement can be reached with the business community.
