FDC promises to join traders in Tuesday demonstration

By Olivia Nabaggala

15^th April 2024

The opposition Forum for Democratic Changes (FDC) has threatened to join traders who are protesting the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and invoicing system (EFRIS) once the Government fails to address their plight.

On Monday, a number of traders opened their shops although many remain closed as traders protest the Uganda Revenue Authority’s EFRIS invoicing and receipt system that was recently introduced to the traders.

Speaking to the press at the party headquarters the president of the party Patrick Oboi Amuriat noted that EFRIS was hurriedly enforced without sensitizing stakeholders.

He also adds that traders are not only opposing EFRIS but they are also burdened by the current 18% VAT rate imposed on each trader as goods move to the next trader which amounts to double taxation and this limits competitiveness in the region compared to Kenya who’s e VAT is at 16%.

Traders further allege unprofessional conduct of the URA officers and high interest rates imposed on local businesses ranging from 17-36%, additional grievances including elevated import duty rates on textiles and garments among others.

Although POA didn’t reveal how FDC will join the traders protest, he says the strike is a wakeup call to the Government to listen to the cries of traders.

His call comes at a time when a section of traders have announced their plans to resume their protest by closing their shops on Tuesday if the government fails to adhere to their call of halting the implementation of EFRIS.

Patrick Oboi Amuriat  (POA) is also concerned with the actions of  the founding party president Dr. Kizza Besigye who attempted to politicize the funeral of Sarah Eperu who succumbed to kidney related illness and laid to rest in Koloin, Mukura sub county Kapir constituency Ngora district on Saturday last week.

According to POA noted that Dr. Besigye transported a group of people from Kampala, Wakiso, Jinja, and Iganga, purportedly for security reasons, but ended up humiliating mourners by conducting body searches and turning away individuals wearing shirts with the portrait of Ngora Woman MP, Stella Apolot Isodo hence making mourners to question the intentions of these individuals at the funeral.

POA says Dr. Besigye utterance at St. Jude Naggulu during the requiem mass for the same deceased person were reckless adding that the former FDC leader should refrain from using violence for political gains inclining on the party where he is no longer a leader.