A section of traders from Kasese District has raised concerns over the high taxes imposed on their goods by the government through the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
The traders voiced their grievances during the launch of nationwide consultative meetings organized by the Uganda National Traders’ Alliance (UNATA) at Booma Grounds in Kasese Municipality.
The meetings aim to collect data on the challenges affecting the business sector across the country.
The consultative meetings will extend to major cities, including Mbarara, Fort Portal, Masaka, Gulu, Soroti, Mubende, Mbale, Kabale, Jinja, and Kampala, as UNATA gathers input from traders in various regions.
Many traders, particularly those involved in importing goods, lamented that the high tax rates were making their businesses unsustainable.
They claimed that, in addition to the heavy taxation, they often faced exploitation due to unclear tax policies.
Mrs. Rose Kanyomah, a businesswoman in Kasese, expressed her frustration:
"The taxes on our imported goods are too high. It is becoming difficult for us to sustain our businesses. The government needs to revise these tax policies to create a favorable environment for traders like us."
Similarly, Mambo Joseph, another trader, called for urgent intervention from the government.
"We are struggling to keep our businesses afloat. On top of the high taxes, we have not received any training or sensitization on how to manage our businesses effectively. The government should support us with business education programs."
In response to the traders' concerns, Mr. Godfrey Katongole, the President of UNATA, assured them that their grievances were being documented and would be presented to President Yoweri Museveni for review.
"We are here to collect data on the issues affecting traders across the country. Once we compile the findings, we will write a detailed report for the President's perusal and scrutiny," Katongole stated.
Kwebiha Muzamil Abwooli, the Executive Director of UNATA, urged traders to formally document their challenges and proposals so they could be directly submitted to the Head of State.
"If we put everything in writing and submit it through the right channels, we believe the government will take action to address our concerns," Kwebiha emphasized.
The traders hope that their voices will be heard and that the government will take measures to reduce the tax burden and support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in Kasese and beyond.