Some Traders Resume Operations Amid National Sit-Down Strike

A section of traders in downtown Kampala has maintained normal operations despite calls for a national sit-down strike by their association leaders.

The strike was prompted by the indefinite cancellation of a meeting with President Museveni, initially rescheduled for July 31, 2024, at Kololo Independence Grounds. The cancellation was communicated by Minister for Kampala, Minsa Kabanda, citing renovations at the venue.

The Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) has demanded a direct and respectful dialogue with the President to address their grievances. KACITA spokesperson Isa Sekito expressed the traders’ discontent following the latest cancellation, calling for the resumption of the strike. However, by Wednesday morning, some traders had opened their shops and resumed normal operations.

In areas such as Nasser Road, Mukwano Lane, Mukwano Arcade, and Ben Kiwanuka Street, a mix of open and closed shops was observed. Owino and Mukajja markets in downtown Kampala. Conversely, the majority of shops in parts of Kikuubo remained closed.

The background to these meetings is the traders’ dissatisfaction with the implementation of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing System (EFRIS) and the burden of high taxes, which they claim are stifling their businesses.

Minister Kabanda announced that the President will meet with traders at an undisclosed date towards the end of August. Sekkito, however, stressed the urgency of the situation, stating,

“Traders are losing capital. They are losing money. They are eating all their capital because they are no longer working.”

Sekito suggested alternative venues for the meeting, such as Namboole Stadium or Nakivubo Stadium, and emphasized that the issue is national, not just limited to Kampala. “This is a national issue of taxation. We are pledging to the President, please be down. Like your people, you are the judge of the nation. Hear their cry and be with them,” he urged.

Despite efforts to communicate with the traders, the lack of a unified leadership has complicated matters. Sekito noted, “We have so many groups masquerading as leaders of the traders. They have failed to unite themselves together.”