National Unity Platform(NUP) president Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert alias Bobi Wine has backed traders on the ongoing protests all over the country about high taxes imposed on them by the government and urged other sectors to join in.
“I want to urge you all to stand with traders, although as traders you should also know that you are not the only ones affected, the teachers are suffering the same way, police officers are suffering the same way, the medical workers too, when you are protesting come out and join the traders because when they increase the prices of commodities, no one will be spared we are all going to suffer,”Bobi Wine said during an event at their headquarters at Makerere Kavule in Kampala where they welcomes hundreds of supporters from other political parties joining them.
He also added“When the business community is suffering all of us are going to suffer and let me hope that you wont accuse us of playing politics when we are fighting for you”.
This came after Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) asked the tax collections body Uganda Revenue Authority(URA) to sensitise traders on how the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution(EFRIS) works which URA failed to do.
Traders under the Federation of Traders Association staged a protest on Monday 08th April 2024,over the implementation of EFRIS and also described it as double taxation saying they don’t understand the automated sale records.
Kyagulanyi has also condemned the issue of the government holding foreigners in high regard to the extent of exempting them from paying taxes which is not the same case when it comes to the citizens.
“It is unfortunate that the economy is constantly being reduced and owned by a few president’s people to the extent that they would rather empower foreigners than the citizens of Uganda,the citizens don’t get tax holidays,foreigners get tax holidays ,they bring in foreigners in disguise of investors.”Kyagulanyi said.
The Leader of Opposition in Parliament has applauded the traders for stepping up against the heavy taxes and implementations imposed on them by URA.
“I was appreciating traders who are now speaking out with action, they have closed the shops downtown Kampala in Masaka in Busoga and several parts of the country and they are saying they are discontented.Number one the heavy taxes too much taxes they don’t understand and then the modus operandi of how the taxes are collected EFRIS,” Ssenyonyi said.
At the same event party secretary general condemned the manner in which one of their supporters Muhaydin Sanya amongst the 27 who are being tried in court martial was mishandled when he spoke to the power about the longest time they have been tried.
