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KAMPALA - As announced Monday (April 15, 2024) during a press conference, city traders have closed their shops in protest against the usage of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoice Solution (EFRIS) in the collection of Value Added Tax in their businesses.

On Monday morning, city traders operating under various associations led by KACITA, UATEA, and KAAFO vowed to demonstrate against URA's move to enforce the usage of EFRIS for VAT collection in their businesses starting today 16 April 2024.

Most of the shops in city arcades are closed, and only a handful such as butcheries whose proprietors opened have their meat removed for storage purposes along Nabugabo street.

"We have painfully decided to close our shops until we meet the President about our concerns that we have petitioned to the government for a while now without any fruitful outcome," said Edward Ntale, one of the traders and the chairperson of UATEA.

We were tossed by most of the government officials including Uganda Revenue Authorities (URA'), over our issues until we got tired and decided to demonstrate peacefully as we waited to meet the president who is reportedly going to meet us on Friday.

The situation is still calm in the city center, as a handful of traders are there. The traders have vowed that they will undertake all necessary actions to ensure their concerns are addressed.