Kampala, (UG):- President Museveni directed that the implementation of Uganda Revenue Authority penalties including those arising from the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS) be suspended with immediate effect to give room for wider consultations into their status.
The President said this after holding discussions with the leadership of traders in Kampala and upcountry districts at State House Entebbe on Friday, April 19, 2024. The discussions mainly centred on the taxation levied on their businesses, especially the EFRIS system.
The meeting followed a strike by traders who closed their businesses, expressing their discontent against the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA)’s implementation of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS).
During the meeting, the President informed the traders that he will meet the technocrats from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and URA on the 24th, of April 2024 for wider consultations.
The President also noted that he will then meet with all the traders on 7th May 2024 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. “I have asked the traders to give me time to research more and consult the technocrats on all the concerns they raised. I will then meet them all on 7th May, 2024, at Kololo to discuss further,” Museveni said.
President Museveni further directed that all penalties should be suspended by the URA in the meantime to give room for wider consultations, and in turn, the leaders of the traders agreed to reopen their businesses as they continue to consult further with the government.
“In the meantime, I have directed that URA refrain from issuing penalties and recovering any penalties that have already been issued, but taxpayers must continue to pay their taxes as usual. It is good they have agreed to open up their businesses as we continue to find solutions to the issues raised,” he said.
The delegation of 61 leaders was led by Mr. Kabanda John, the leader of the Federation of Uganda’s Traders Associations (FUTA) and Dr. Musoke Thadeus Nagenda, the leader of Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA).
The meeting was also attended by Mr. Issa Ssekito, the Spokesperson of KACITA.
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