Govt to review trade licence fees
Jul 07, 2011
TRADE licence fees paid by traders to urban authorities countrywide are set to be reviewed, trade minister Amelia Kyambadde has said.
By Samuel Sanya
TRADE licence fees paid by traders to urban authorities countrywide are set to be reviewed, trade minister Amelia Kyambadde has said.
Traders in Kampala held a sit-down strike yesterday, protesting the depreciation of the shilling against the dollar, the high trade licence fees, unfair custom valuation and foreigners dealing in petty trade.
“We have realised that the trade licence fees are so high and yet the services offered are not commensurate to the licences. In some areas, we realised they have no toilets, or facilities and yet the traders are issued with the trade licences which cost some money; so we are going to review the trade licence regime,†Kyambadde told journalist at the Media Centre in Kampala.
Kyambadde, only sworn in as trade minister a month ago, had a tough time yesterday.
In the morning, she addressed traders at Nakivubo Stadium before going to Parliament where she was again questioned by MPs over the issue of the traders’ strike. After Parliament, she crossed over to the Media Centre for the briefing.
Kyambadde promised to tackle the issue of illegal immigrants doing petty businesses in the country. She observed that some of the foreigners come as tourists, but ended up in business.
She further said a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) directorate is to be set up in her ministry to ease access to important information for SMEs as well to address critical issues that affect them.
Kyambadde explained that the activities of the Southern Sudan Arbitration Committee set up last year to settle the grievances of Ugandan traders would be expedited in collaboration with the government of Southern Sudan.
She said her ministry and that of internal affairs were reviewing the process of licensing foreign investors. A head count of foreign business persons will also be carried.
Earlier, during the meeting with ttraders at Nakivubo stadium, Kyambadde promised that the Government would address the high dollar exchange rate, unfair taxes and other issues affecting traders in a month’s time.
“We cannot handle these challenges in one day or a week. We will discuss your grievances in Cabinet. We beg you give us some time,†Kyambadde asked traders.
She met the traders together with internal affairs minister, Hilary Onek, finance state minister Fred Omach, and trade state minister David Wakikona, who also addressed the traders.
Traders were angry that URA tax charges are pegged to the dollar.
They also want the Government to control city landlords from charging exorbitant rent and toilet fees.
Onek promised to deal with ‘illegal†immigrants. “As Government, we shall never let you down. We shall work hand in hand to see that you prosper because if you do, Uganda also prospers. I want KACITA to help us find the illegal immigrants so that we can chase them out of Uganda,†said Onek.
At the start of the meeting, there was commotion as traders refused to listen to the ministers in the absence of the KACITA spokesperson, Issa Ssekitto.
In Parliament, while debating a motion on President Yoweri Museveni’s State-of-the-Nation Address, MPs expressed concern over the traders strike and the depreciation of the shilling against the dollar.
Kyambadde said the Ministry of Finance and Bank of Uganda were working hard to stablise the dollar. She promised to present a comprehensive statement today.
Additional reporting by Joyce Namutebi and Mary Karugaba
TRADE licence fees paid by traders to urban authorities countrywide are set to be reviewed, trade minister Amelia Kyambadde has said.
Traders in Kampala held a sit-down strike yesterday, protesting the depreciation of the shilling against the dollar, the high trade licence fees, unfair custom valuation and foreigners dealing in petty trade.
“We have realised that the trade licence fees are so high and yet the services offered are not commensurate to the licences. In some areas, we realised they have no toilets, or facilities and yet the traders are issued with the trade licences which cost some money; so we are going to review the trade licence regime,†Kyambadde told journalist at the Media Centre in Kampala.
Kyambadde, only sworn in as trade minister a month ago, had a tough time yesterday.
In the morning, she addressed traders at Nakivubo Stadium before going to Parliament where she was again questioned by MPs over the issue of the traders’ strike. After Parliament, she crossed over to the Media Centre for the briefing.
Kyambadde promised to tackle the issue of illegal immigrants doing petty businesses in the country. She observed that some of the foreigners come as tourists, but ended up in business.
She further said a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) directorate is to be set up in her ministry to ease access to important information for SMEs as well to address critical issues that affect them.
Kyambadde explained that the activities of the Southern Sudan Arbitration Committee set up last year to settle the grievances of Ugandan traders would be expedited in collaboration with the government of Southern Sudan.
She said her ministry and that of internal affairs were reviewing the process of licensing foreign investors. A head count of foreign business persons will also be carried.
Earlier, during the meeting with ttraders at Nakivubo stadium, Kyambadde promised that the Government would address the high dollar exchange rate, unfair taxes and other issues affecting traders in a month’s time.
“We cannot handle these challenges in one day or a week. We will discuss your grievances in Cabinet. We beg you give us some time,†Kyambadde asked traders.
She met the traders together with internal affairs minister, Hilary Onek, finance state minister Fred Omach, and trade state minister David Wakikona, who also addressed the traders.
Traders were angry that URA tax charges are pegged to the dollar.
They also want the Government to control city landlords from charging exorbitant rent and toilet fees.
Onek promised to deal with ‘illegal†immigrants. “As Government, we shall never let you down. We shall work hand in hand to see that you prosper because if you do, Uganda also prospers. I want KACITA to help us find the illegal immigrants so that we can chase them out of Uganda,†said Onek.
At the start of the meeting, there was commotion as traders refused to listen to the ministers in the absence of the KACITA spokesperson, Issa Ssekitto.
In Parliament, while debating a motion on President Yoweri Museveni’s State-of-the-Nation Address, MPs expressed concern over the traders strike and the depreciation of the shilling against the dollar.
Kyambadde said the Ministry of Finance and Bank of Uganda were working hard to stablise the dollar. She promised to present a comprehensive statement today.
Additional reporting by Joyce Namutebi and Mary Karugaba