By Elijah Khisa
Bad blood continues to simmer between Kampala city traders and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki over what the traders describe as unfair taxation policies that disadvantage businesses.
The traders, under their umbrella body, the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), are demanding the unconditional sacking of Musinguzi, accusing him of presiding over weak administrative systems that undermine the effective functioning of the tax body and distort established policy frameworks.
The traders argue that the URA chief has failed to harmonise the taxation system and foster a constructive working relationship with the business community.
Tensions escalated on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, when a planned meeting between the traders and Musinguzi collapsed following a disagreement over security arrangements at the URA offices.
The URA chief had reportedly invited the traders for a meeting to discuss their grievances. However, upon their arrival, they were informed that they had to surrender their mobile phones and national identity cards to security personnel before meeting him, a condition that angered the traders.
According to the traders, Musinguzi, through an emissary, gave the more than 300 business owners two options: surrender their phones and national identity cards to security or allow him to proceed with other official engagements.
The traders rejected the conditions, resulting in a heated exchange and the collapse of the planned meeting. They subsequently withdrew to their respective business premises.
The traders had initially planned to return on Wednesday to brief their colleagues on the outcome of the engagement. However, they were surprised to find KACITA offices, the anticipated venue for their meeting, cordoned off by heavily armed security personnel.
KACITA president Hajji Issa Ssekito reportedly returned from Central Police Station (CPS), where he had gone to seek an explanation from the Officer in Charge of the station over the sudden deployment of heavily armed security officers who had blocked traders from accessing the association’s offices.
Upon his return, Ssekito asked the visibly angered traders to voluntarily disperse until Thursday morning to allow further consultations and discussions on their grievances. The traders complied with his request.
The traders have outlined seven resolutions they want URA to address, including what they describe as arbitrary impounding of cargo trucks over alleged documentation and clearance irregularities, deliberate administrative delays in customs processes, challenges associated with the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS), and excessive taxation.
As part of their planned action, the traders resolved that all cargo clearing agents should temporarily suspend the processing of cargo entry documents, commonly known as IM4 papers, at customs points as they prepare to engage URA officials.
They argue that URA should first address the outstanding disputes before proceeding with the assessment and taxation of the affected cargo.
The traders also resolved to write to landlords of commercial buildings, asking them to support a planned shop closure by ensuring that no business premises are opened if the decision to close shops is implemented.
Additionally, they want URA to provide a comprehensive list of applicable merchandise tax rates to enable traders to accurately calculate the expected costs of their goods and establish their profit margins.
They are also demanding that URA takes responsibility for warehouse storage charges incurred when cargo is impounded or delayed due to customs clearance challenges, arguing that prolonged administrative delays impose additional financial burdens on business owners.
The traders have warned that failure by URA to address their concerns could trigger a countrywide shop closure, potentially disrupting commercial activities across the country.
