Arua Park transporters protest new tax
Oct 25, 2002
IT was the last minute intervention by the Minister of state for Housing, Captain Francis Babu, that calmed down rowdy shop owners and members of different transporter’s associations protesting a new tax by KCC at Arua park on Wednesday.
By Edris Kisambira
and Richard Komakech
IT was the last minute intervention by the Minister of state for Housing, Captain Francis Babu, that calmed down rowdy shop owners and members of different transporter’s associations protesting a new tax by KCC at Arua park on Wednesday.
Kampala Central division had introduced a tax to be levied on pick-ups and trucks loading or off loading merchandise at Arua Park, and contracted Seka Uganda Limited to collect the fees.
When the transporters protested, KCC law enforcement officials closed most shops at the park and clamped most lorries forcing the owners and their turn boys to go on a sit-down strike.
At an impromptu meeting convened by Babu, who is also area MP and the division LC3 chairman, Charles Sserunjogi, the exercise was suspended and KCC law enforcement officials removed locks from vehicles they had clamped.
“We shall have to revisit the terms under which the tender was awarded, and also consult the people affected before the fee can be collected,†Babu said. The rowdy shop owners and transporters had earlier on protested the legality of Seka Uganda Limited, and chased away their employees who wore white, yellow and green colour aprons, the official KCC colours.
The new tax was to be paid in addition to parking fees levied by Green boat and other fees paid to the area LCs and UTODA. Babu blamed the incident on rumour mongers, whom he said were misleading the KCC officials.
He said such people claimed that operators at Arua park were gaining more than they should.
and Richard Komakech
IT was the last minute intervention by the Minister of state for Housing, Captain Francis Babu, that calmed down rowdy shop owners and members of different transporter’s associations protesting a new tax by KCC at Arua park on Wednesday.
Kampala Central division had introduced a tax to be levied on pick-ups and trucks loading or off loading merchandise at Arua Park, and contracted Seka Uganda Limited to collect the fees.
When the transporters protested, KCC law enforcement officials closed most shops at the park and clamped most lorries forcing the owners and their turn boys to go on a sit-down strike.
At an impromptu meeting convened by Babu, who is also area MP and the division LC3 chairman, Charles Sserunjogi, the exercise was suspended and KCC law enforcement officials removed locks from vehicles they had clamped.
“We shall have to revisit the terms under which the tender was awarded, and also consult the people affected before the fee can be collected,†Babu said. The rowdy shop owners and transporters had earlier on protested the legality of Seka Uganda Limited, and chased away their employees who wore white, yellow and green colour aprons, the official KCC colours.
The new tax was to be paid in addition to parking fees levied by Green boat and other fees paid to the area LCs and UTODA. Babu blamed the incident on rumour mongers, whom he said were misleading the KCC officials.
He said such people claimed that operators at Arua park were gaining more than they should.