East African Gazette
Kampala
Trade in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, has come to a halt as prominent merchants have decided to shut down their businesses in response to what they perceive as unjust taxes that are severely impacting their operations.
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The Federation of Uganda Traders Association (FUTA) claims that their enterprises are negatively impacted by tax policies, high taxes, and their implementation.
The traders are opposing the Uganda National Revenue Authority’s (URA) use of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoice Solution (EFRIS) to collect value-added tax from their companies.
At 6:00am today (April 16, 2024), the city appeared deserted unlike its usual bustling self, with only a handful of small shops and cafeterias open for business.
Many of the shops along the streets were closed, while a few individuals could be seen sitting on their porches.
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The city corners were being patrolled by armed army and police personnel, both on foot and in vehicles, equipped with guns and antiriot gear, in order to prevent any form of criminal activity.
Water cannon trucks were observed stationed at different streets and important intersections.
During their patrol, the security forces successfully apprehended a group of young individuals who were attempting to instigate violence among the residents of the city by setting tyres on fire in the middle of the road.
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They were bundled into a police patrol vehicle and swiftly taken away for further handling.
During the presentation of the alternative national budget priorities for the 2024/25 FY, the Leaders of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, emphasized the need for the government to promptly address the concerns of the traders.
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