By Jumah Kakomo
Traders across the country had resolved to go into a five day demonstration by closing their business as a protest against EFRIS an initiative that was established by the tax body Uganda revenue authority (URA).
Four days into their sit down strike, Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni on Friday, April 19 2024, convened a meeting with trader’s leaders under their umbrella body Kampala city trader’s association Uganda (KACITA- Uganda) at State House Entebbe where their plight was discussed and a number of resolutions reached.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, the chairman of KACITA Thadeus Musoke Naggenda noted that the meeting was productive since the president suspended the implementation of EFRIS indefinitely till further consultations.
According to Thadeus Musoke, the discussions mainly centered on the taxation levied on their businesses through EFRIS system which he says traders are still ignorant about its operation which results into many losses and hence kicking some traders out of businesses.
Musoke adds that in the meeting, President Museveni promised traders that he will also engage with officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MFPED) including the tax collection body (URA) on the 24th, April 2024, and later meet with all traders on 7th May 2024 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
Musoke further disclosed that President Museveni also directed the suspension of all penalties by the URA in the meantime to enable him more time for further consultations.
However, Musoke said despite reopening businesses, there are pending issues which they also want be revised such as 35% of taxation, textiles, Fabrics and Garments where taxes are charged in kilograms, the VAT threshold of 150 million which is double taxation.
Musoke extended gratitude on behalf of traders to the minister of Kampala Minsa Kabanda, Mayor for Kampala central Salim Uhuru, Gen. Salim Saleh among others for standing with them in the challenging moment.
He also thanked his fellow traders for standing in solidarity in the fight for their businesses.
William Kaggwa ,General secretary also interim chairman in charge of hardware section appealed to traders to make 7th, May, 2024, a public holiday, the day they will meet president Museveni at Kololo ceremonial grounds.
