The KACITA Spokesperson, Issa Sekito, expressed disappointment over how the association was informed that the meeting was called off.
According to Sekito, the Minister for Kampala, Hon. Minsa Kabanda, informed the association via WhatsApp voice message that the meeting with President Museveni had been cancelled.
Seiko criticised the Minister for her unprofessional conduct over such an important issue, especially since the meeting, initially planned for July 31, was supposed to address critical issues affecting the business community.
This informal communication method, she used was “unprofessional and disrespectful, especially for a matter involving the entire business community,” he said.
In response to the message, the association has decided to embark on a nationwide strike starting tomorrow.
The KACITA leadership has also urged traders to participate in the strike peacefully, emphasising the importance of demonstrating unity in their cause.
Minister Kabanda attributed the cancellation of the proposed meeting with the president to ongoing renovations at Kololo Independence Ground.
However, Sekito disagreed with Minister Kabanda, saying that the President should have communicated through the Ministry of Trade, considering the national importance of the issues at hand.
“We have never met the president at a conference centre. We can meet him at Namboole or Nakivubo. He can even use the other ways he uses to communicate with the country, (national broadcast) but not through an SMS,” he said
The traders in Kampala are protesting several taxation issues
According to our research, we found out that the traders in Kampala are demanding several specific measures from the government:
- Foreign Competition: The traders are concerned about the rise of foreign traders in local markets and want regulators to protect local businesses.
- Professional Communication: They seek more formal and respectful communication from government officials, especially for important matters affecting the business community
These issues have led to frustrations and the decision to strike.
