Traders under their umbrella body, the Kampala Capital City Traders Association (KACITA), have formally petitioned the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) following its decision to suspend the groupage importation of goods.

The suspension was announced in a notice issued by URA on April 24, 2025, citing complaints from some traders about high taxes allegedly imposed by container leaders managing shared cargo shipments.

Addressing the media today at KACITA headquarters in Kampala, the association’s chairperson, Thadeus Musoke Nagenda, criticized the URA’s move, arguing that it disproportionately affects small-scale traders.

He warned that many low-income earners, who rely on the affordability of groupage importation, may be forced out of business due to the high cost of importing full containers individually.

Musoke dismissed claims that some container leaders were overcharging traders, stating that extensive consultations with KACITA members show overwhelming support for the groupage system because of its cost-effectiveness.

Speaking alongside him, KACITA Spokesperson Isa Ssekitto challenged URA to engage directly with the association to address concerns over pricing irregularities by a few individuals, rather than halting the entire groupage system.

He emphasized the importance of collaborative dialogue in resolving the issue without crippling the livelihoods of thousands of small traders.

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