Frustrated traders on Wednesday stormed the offices of Al Sharky Company at Kampala Boulevard, accusing the firm of taking their money but failing to deliver vehicle spare parts for more than seven months.
The traders said they had paid full transportation fees, but their goods never arrived. Some broke down in tears as they recounted the losses they had suffered.
“We have spent seven months being taken in circles after paying all the charges,” said Halifah Naziwa, a trader operating in Ndeeba.
“They took our money, but we have not received a single item.”
The situation escalated when company staff claimed that the employee who collected the traders’ payments had disappeared and was no longer working with the firm.
This explanation angered the traders further.
“How can a company say their own employee ran off with our money? That only shows negligence,” lamented Halima Nakafuma, another affected trader. “Over Shs10 million of our money is gone.”
Vincent Sserunkuuma said he paid four million shillings to transport his merchandise but has received nothing.
“I gave them Shs4 million to ship my goods. Up to now, I have not received a coin’s worth of service,” he said.
The traders vowed not to leave the company premises until they received either their goods or refunds.
“We shall not move from here until we get what we paid for,” several insisted, condemning what they described as rampant fraud in some transport companies.
Their leader, Charles Yiga, criticised the company’s conduct and advised traders to avoid brokers when transporting goods.
“This is unacceptable. I urge traders to avoid brokers and instead use proper, verified channels to safeguard their businesses,” he said.
Officials at Al Sharky Company were reluctant to speak to the media on record, saying a former staff member acted independently and that the company should not be held responsible for their actions.
The Nile Post could not readily establish the identity of the staff that Al Sharky company is faulting but the officials urged the affected traders to allow authorities to handle the matter through official investigations.