Kampala shops resume operations after President’s meeting with business leaders last week
After President Yoweri Museveni met with business leaders last Friday, who represented the traders who had closed their businesses in protest over a number of tax-related issues, chief among them being the rollout of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS) receipt system, the president ordered the revenue body URA to postpone for one month any fines associated with failing to use the EFRIS receipting system.
The meeting came after traders went on strike, closing their doors to protest the Uganda Revenue Authority’s (URA) implementation of EFRIS. The conversation mostly focused on the taxes that their companies were assessed, particularly the EFRIS system.
The President told the traders during the meeting that he will have more extensive consultations with the technocrats from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and URA on April 24, 2024.
The President further stated that on May 7, 2024, at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, he will meet with the different traders.
President Museveni also ordered URA to halt all penalties in the mean time so that more extensive consultations could take place.
The traders’ leaders agreed to reopen their businesses while they carried out additional consultations with the government.
John Kabanda, the head of the Federation of Uganda’s Traders Associations (FUTA), Dr. Musoke Thadeus Agenda, the head of the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), and KACITA’s spokesperson, Issa Ssekito, led the delegation of 61 leaders to state house.
Key takeaways
✔ President to meet with Ministry of Finance and URA Technocrats on April 24, 2024.
✔ President to meet with all traders on May 7, 2024 at Kololo Ceremonial grounds.
✔ URA directed to suspend all penalties during further consultations.
✔ Traders agreed to open up their businesses while continuing consultations with the government
