Kampala Traders to Stage Mass Shutdown Over “Oppressive” Taxes, Rent, and Chinese Investors
Kampala, Uganda – In a bold move to protest worsening business conditions, Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) has announced a citywide shutdown next Tuesday, with shop owners across the capital set to close their businesses in protest against high taxes, exorbitant rents, and alleged exploitation by Chinese investors.
The newly appointed KACITA leader, Isa Ssekito, made the declaration while addressing traders from Kati Kati Restaurant in Lugogo—a temporary base after security forces took over the association’s offices amid a leadership dispute with former chairman Thadeus Musoke, who claims he was illegally removed.
Why Traders Are Protesting
Ssekito accused the government of ignoring years of pleas from the business community, citing:
- Unfair tax enforcement: Goods confiscated by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) are reportedly rotting in Nakawa and at ports, causing huge losses.
- Skyrocketing rents: Landlords, including Chinese investors, have imposed unaffordable rates.
- Poor working conditions: Traders claim foreign investors, particularly Chinese, dominate sectors with little benefit to locals.
“If we close all shops, President Museveni will have no choice but to listen,” Ssekito declared. “Our goods are being held hostage, our businesses are suffocating, and the government has done nothing.”
KACITA’s Standoff with Authorities
The protest announcement comes amid an ongoing leadership tussle at KACITA, with armed security personnel occupying its offices following Musoke’s refusal to vacate. Traders allege the dispute is being used to weaken their collective voice.
“They want to divide us, but we are united in this fight,” said a textile dealer in Kikuubo. “Even if we must protest from the streets, we will.”
Government Response & Potential Impact
URA and trade ministry officials have yet to comment, but past trader protests have forced temporary policy reversals. A full-scale Kampala shutdown could disrupt the economy and escalate tensions ahead of the 2026 elections.
Will Museveni intervene? With traders vowing to “push him to the wall,” the ball is now in the government’s court.
Updates expected as the protest date nears.
