Traders ask finance ministry to address rising costs of doing business
The traders raised concerns during a meeting with officials from the office of the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, at the ministry offices yesterday (Tuesday). The meeting was chaired by Ariyo Edmand, a Principal Economist who represented Ggoobi.
Some members of the Uganda National Association of Transporters (UNATA) during a meeting on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. (Courtesy)
____________ Some members of the Uganda National Association of Transporters (UNATA) listen to proceedings at the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. (Courtesy)
Uganda National Traders Alliance (UNATA) has asked the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to address rising costs of doing business and tax-related challenges that traders say are making it increasingly difficult to operate their businesses.
The traders raised the concerns during a meeting with officials from the office of the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, at the ministry offices yesterday (Tuesday). The meeting was chaired by Ariyo Edmand, a Principal Economist who represented Ggoobi.
Among the key issues raised were the need to standardise tax values, reduce high rental charges in commercial buildings and address rising electricity bills, which the traders said continue to increase their costs of doing business and make it hard for them to make profits.
Led by UNATA president, the traders argued that the cost of garbage collection should be catered for through the trade licence fees they pay to city authorities, including Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), part of which is intended to support services such as garbage collection and other health-related activities.
The traders said they had previously raised the garbage collection issue with President Yoweri Museveni, who issued directives to KCCA, including acquiring additional equipment to improve garbage collection and ease the burden on traders.
However, the traders told the Finance ministry officials that private garbage collection companies operating under a consortium have continued to collect fees from them.
They said the charges had recently increased from sh60,000 to sh120,000, although protests from traders forced the collectors to reduce the amount to sh80,000.
UNATA president Godfrey Katongole said the meeting was fruitful because ministry officials listened to the traders' concerns and their call to be consulted as key stakeholders during the national budget process.
He said traders want the Government to consider reducing taxes on textile products and review the Uganda Revenue Authority's (URA) practice of assessing some imported goods based on weight.
The traders also raised concerns about the handling of goods imported through Entebbe International Airport. Muhamad Kasamba, a UNATA member, said traders had expressed frustration over what they described as the continued confiscation of luggage belonging to traders who use air transport to import merchandise into Uganda.
Kasamba said the traders had previously engaged URA over the matter, arguing that the practice causes delays and financial losses. He explained that the luggage is sometimes taken to URA's cargo-handling department for verification and tax valuation before it is released.
According to Kasamba, the process can result in some goods being damaged or items going missing while traders wait for verification and assessment of the taxes payable.
The traders urged the Finance Ministry to intervene in the various challenges and ensure that their concerns are considered in Government policies and the national budgeting process.