The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Winnie Nankya, has granted bail to 16 city traders who were charged with common nuisance following a protest over taxation policies.

One trader, however, remains in custody due to a language barrier, as no Dhopadhola translator was available during the court session.

A total of 17 individuals were arrested on August 19, 2025, after participating in a demonstration against what they described as unfair taxation and restrictive government policies.

The traders accuse the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) of imposing crippling taxes and applying harsh enforcement measures that disproportionately target local business owners, while allowing foreign competitors to operate with fewer restrictions.

During the court session held today, Magistrate Nankya granted each of the accused a non-cash bail of UGX 200,000 and required each of their sureties to post a non-cash bond of UGX 500,000.

All 16 have been ordered to return to court on October 15, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.

Magistrate Nankya also addressed the case of the remaining accused, Okecho Peter, stating that he will be granted bail once a suitable translator is available to facilitate communication in Dhopadhola, his native language.

In the courtroom, traders emphasized the urgent need for clearer communication and guidance from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) regarding import quality regulations.

They argued that a lack of information has led to inadvertent non-compliance.

Meanwhile, the traders have expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with the URA and government officials in an effort to resolve the ongoing taxation issues.

However, they warned that if negotiations fail, they intend to resume their protests and pursue further legal action.

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