Business came to a standstill along Nabugabo Street in downtown Kampala on Tuesday as hundreds of traders staged a sit-down strike to protest what they described as exploitative taxation by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the growing dominance of Chinese investors in the retail sector.
The demonstration, which began early in the morning, saw shop owners locking their premises and gathering in small groups outside arcades to express solidarity. The protest disrupted commercial activity across the city centre, drawing large crowds and triggering a swift response from law enforcement.
Police Intervention and Arrests Security forces moved in to disperse the gatherings, arresting several individuals accused of inciting others to close their shops. Eyewitnesses reported that some of those detained had been blowing whistles and urging fellow traders to abandon their businesses in protest.
Traders’ Grievances Participants cited delays in clearing goods at the port of Mombasa and the inland depot in Nairobi as a major concern, claiming that URA’s current procedures were hampering their ability to restock. Some called for the resignation of URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki, accusing him of failing to address their longstanding grievances.
Demands and Divisions The Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) presented a list of demands, including reduced customs duties, lower rental fees, and broader tax concessions. However, internal divisions among business leaders appeared to weaken the strike’s momentum.
Hajji Issa Sekitto, Acting Chairperson of KACITA, criticized some trade leaders for failing to unite the business community.
“We are going through tough times, yet many refuse to acknowledge it. I hold the trade leaders accountable; instead of uniting traders, they are working to divide and break them apart,” he said.
Mixed Response Across the City While Nabugabo Street and several arcades remained closed throughout the day, other parts of Kampala saw limited activity. In Kikuubo, a few shops defied the strike call and opened for business, while street vendors capitalized on the shutdown by selling goods in the usually congested lanes.
Nationwide Impact Limited Despite being branded a nationwide strike, the action failed to gain traction outside the capital. In Mbarara City, shops operated normally, with no visible signs of protest. Simon Mwijuka Sezi, Chairperson of the Mbarara City Traders Association, said he was unaware of any formal communication regarding the strike, learning about it only through social media.
