Downtown Kampala turned into a ghost town today as angry traders slammed their shop doors shut, protesting what they called “killer taxes,” unfair rent charges, and suffocating trade policies.
From Kikuubo to Nakivubo and Kisenyi, thousands of traders under their umbrella group Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) have boycotted business, leaving soldiers and police patrolling eerily silent arcades.
The strike comes barely a week after deadly floods swept through the city, destroying goods worth millions. Many traders said the floods were the final blow.
“We can’t keep quiet anymore. Government policies are choking us,” fumed KACITA chairperson Isa Ssekito.
He added : “Foreign traders come here as manufacturers but end up selling on the streets.There’s no order, no fairness. Even removing vendors who block arcades shouldn’t need rocket science.”
Ssekito said the protest would only end when government gives firm commitments to fix their grievances.
The Federation of Uganda Traders Association boss, John Kabanda, added fuel to the fire, accusing landlords of defying a government directive banning rent charges in dollars.
“Downtown landlords still demand rent in dollars and hike rates beyond 10 percent. We agreed this should stop, but no one listens. The only solution left is to close business.” he said.
Kabanda also lashed out at Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) for “turning into a tax collector” by enforcing taxes based on the weight of imported garments and textiles.
“UNBS is now behaving like URA. We demand that this ‘tax by kilos’ be scrapped completely,” Ssekito said.
By midmorning, Kampala’s main business hub was crawling with police and UPDF soldiers. Armoured trucks were stationed near Kikuubo Lane, while traders sat helplessly outside locked arcades.
“A trader’s child will also be a trader. We’re in a chain that will never end. Authorities must act now,” said Moses Ddiba, a trader whose shop was submerged during last week’s floods.
But not everyone joined the shutdown. A few shops quietly opened, exposing divisions among the business community.
“Some leaders are only after personal gain.But if you keep sitting back, your turn is coming. Look at the floods, we all suffered.” said Ssekito
This is not the first time Kampala’s traders have taken such drastic action. Just two months ago, they called off a similar strike after meeting Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who pledged to resolve their tax and trade complaints.
However, Ssekito says promises were never fulfilled.
“We discussed the unfair taxation on textiles and garments with the Prime Minister, but nothing changed. We’re back to square one.”
As tension mounts, Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs Hajat Minsa Kabanda has pleaded with traders to remain calm, insisting that government agencies are already handling their issues.
“The Ministry of Trade and other agencies are addressing the concerns. I ask traders to keep working as their issues are being resolved.” she said in an October 22 statement.
