Traders in Mityana District have expressed concern over declining business performance during the recent election period, saying political uncertainty disrupted commercial activity and pushed many enterprises into losses.
According to Daudi Malaga, spokesperson for traders in Mityana, the period leading up to and immediately after the elections created an unstable business environment that affected trade flows and investor confidence.
“During the election period, many investors temporarily pulled out of Uganda due to uncertainty,” Malaga said. “As a result, business slowed down significantly, and traders’ goods were not moving as expected.”
He explained that reduced consumer spending and limited capital circulation left many small and medium-sized businesses struggling to meet operational costs, including rent, utilities and loan repayments.
Malaga added that several traders are still recovering from the downturn and warned that without intervention, some businesses risk permanent closure.
“Many traders are currently operating at a loss,” he said. “We are doing our best to stay afloat, but the situation remains challenging.”
In response, traders are appealing to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to consider temporary tax relief measures to ease financial pressure on the business community.
“We request URA to review and possibly reduce taxes during this recovery period,” Malaga urged. “This would give traders breathing space to rebuild their businesses.”
Business leaders argue that easing the tax burden — even temporarily — could stimulate recovery, improve cash flow and ultimately enhance long-term revenue collection.
Economic analysts note that election cycles often influence investment decisions, particularly in emerging markets where political transitions can affect investor confidence.
However, they emphasize that restoring stability and ensuring predictable policy implementation can quickly revive commercial activity.
As traders in Mityana navigate the post-election recovery phase, their appeal underscores the close link between political stability, investor confidence and local economic growth.