Businesses in the city centre of Jinja and around the suburbs have Wednesday, April 17, 2024, not opened with traders implementing the campaign against the enforcement of Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS).
The anti-EFRIS was recently launched by the Kampala City Traders Association (KASITA) in the Uganda capital, Kampala, demanding government to revise the EFRIS initiative of collecting taxes that is negatively affecting vendors with products taxed thrice.
The campaign now reaches the eastern Jinja city with leaders of the Jinja City and district Traders Association emphasising the closure of shops.
Until 11:30am when this story was compiled, shops along mainstreet, Nizam, Kutch, Alice Mulooki, and Alidina roads among other streets were closed.
Mr Juma Muyita Mukose, the chairperson of Jinja traders, told reporters on Tuesday that businesses will not work in the next day until the government intervenes.
Mr Muyita said, “The demonstration is aimed at raising our voices to government so that the matter is sorted.”
However, Kiira regional Police command expressed commitment to protect the business community under their apex body Jinja Traders Association
Intensified joint security patrols are ongoing in Jinja city and the rural district to ensure no closure of businesses, intimidation or any other disruptive behavior by their purported team leaders, according to SP James Mubi, the regional spokesperson.
“The general public is hereby informed to continue conducting or operating day to day businesses, back and forth movement of people, vehicles and motorcycles in and around the city without any form of intimidation from suspected culprits intending to breach public peace and order,” said Mubi.
Police commend Jinja Traders Association for the cordial cooperation and coordination and remaing nonviolent amidst the sitdown.
Mubi said continuous stakeholders harmonious meetings are ongoing to ensure a calm situation in the city.
