The Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU) Col. Edith Nakalema has scheduled a high-level stakeholder collaboration meeting between concerned Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and associations of traders to iron out unfair trade practices they face.

The meeting slated for March 12, 2024 follows complaints by traders’ Associations under their umbrella body known as the Federation of Uganda Traders Associations (FUTA) who disclosed that they face unfair trade policies while doing business. 

This occurred during a meeting held at the SHIPU offices located on Lot 51B along Lumumba Avenue, Nakasero Hill Kampala on 1 March, 2024, in which traders reported that landlords subject tenants to unfair practices such as issuing false receipts which reflect that are too far below actual rent paid.

“Tenants who pay rent of Shs4 Million are issued with receipts showing Shs400,000,” said Mr. Godfrey Katongole, the Chairperson of the Kampala Arcade Traders’ Association.

The traders’ Associations led by FUTA President, Mr. John Kabanda, also revealed that the landlords of various premises in Kampala charge Shs4,500 per unit of power, as opposed to the expected Shs700. Mr. Kabanda reported to Col. Nakalema that this is done under the bulk meter system used by the landlords who are opposed to the use of the Yaka meter system.

Traders also reported that the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) law enforcement officers selectively enforce trade policies by not only ignoring non-Ugandans who are purportedly engaged in micro-trade in illegal ways but also harshly manhandling local traders during law enforcement exercises.

He therefore requested that the concerned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) combine efforts with KCCA to reign on the non-Ugandans that illegally indulge in micro-trade in the country.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that genuine investments are made to constructively develop our country,” Mr. Kabanda said.

Traders therefore want Col. Nakalema to jointly collaborate with relevant stakeholders under various MDAs to offer redress to their concerns.

It is against this background that Col. Nakalema scheduled a joint meeting with concerned MDAs to offer timely redress to the traders.

“As a Unit, we are under instructions from the President to respond to concerns from both local and foreign investors and coordinate with the relevant government Ministries, Departments and Agencies,” Col. Nakalema said.

The meeting is slated to be attended by officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the Uganda Investment Authority.

In addition, officials from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the Uganda Revenue Authority, the Uganda Manufacturers Association and the Kampala Capital City Authority are expected to attend the meeting.