Traders at Shamba Complex threaten to strike over rent increment

By Olivia Nabaggala

11^th Aug 2023

Traders operating from Shamba complex owned by a city businessman Bosco Muwonge have threatened to close their shops over the proposed rental fees said to be increased by 85% effective September this year.

According to the proposed fees, come September 2023, all outside shops on Shamba complex facing Kiseka Market and Nabugabo road have been increased from Shs2.5 million to Shs3.5million while those facing the new taxi park will be increased to Shs3 million from the current Shs2 million.

In a meeting held at Shamba complex this afternoon attended by the traders, the building manager Florence Achan together with the Officer in Charge (OC) of Nakivubo road police post, ASP Moses Ssalongo Kazibwe and the Community Liaison Officer Emily Aminah Afoyochan, traders contend that the proposed rental fees are too high given the state of the economy and they will have no option but to close their businesses.

In the same meeting, the Shamba Complex building Manager, Florence Achan says that her boss gave a directive to have traders who feel uncomfortable with the proposed fees to vacate the premises.

However, ASP Afoyochan called upon traders to desist from striking because of its negative effects to the economy.

The Landlords and Tenants Act 2021 was passed by parliament in 2022 and signed by President Yoweri Museveni with intentions to reduce protests and demonstrations that are often witnessed each time landlords increase rental fees of their premises.