By Enock Ndyamuhakyi
Kabale, Uganda – April 25, 2025 -In a move aimed at amplifying the voices of traders and bridging the long-standing gap between them and the government, the Uganda National Traders Alliance (UNATA) is set to hold a high-level consultative meeting with traders in Kabale District. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Kirigime Guest House in the Southern Division of Kabale Municipality.
Organized under the umbrella of the Kabale Municipality Traders’ Association (KMTA), the meeting is part of a nationwide tour by UNATA to engage traders on the challenges affecting their businesses and gather practical recommendations to drive positive change in Uganda’s commercial sector.
According to UNATA President Godfrey Katongole, the Kabale consultative tour follows successful engagements with traders in Kasese, Masaka, Fort Portal, Gulu, Mubende, Soroti, and Mbale.
After Kabale, the tour will head to Mbarara and conclude in Jinja City on May 13, where UNATA will meet with traders from the entire Busoga region.
“The continued outcry by traders across the country about unfavorable working conditions is what spurred this initiative,” said Simon Sezzi, the UNATA General Secretary.
Michael Byamungu Turyamureba Rwasabutare, Chairman of KMTA, noted that the Kabale meeting will bring to light the pressing challenges traders face in the district.
He said these include abrupt rent hikes, limited awareness on taxation, and the absence of industrial parks, all of which hamper business growth.
Other concerns, Byamungu said, include the infiltration of international hawkers posing as investors, poor public service delivery in key urban centers, high youth unemployment, and a skills gap among the workforce.“We urge all traders in Kabale to attend and actively participate in this tour. It’s not just a platform to air grievances—it’s a chance to craft sustainable solutions and build a stronger, more united trading community,” Byamungu emphasized.
UNATA says the feedback collected from traders across Uganda will be compiled into a comprehensive report to be presented to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The report will outline the traders’ challenges and propose actionable policy recommendations.
Katongole reaffirmed that UNATA’s broader mission includes not just resolving trader issues but also promoting local manufacturing, supporting import substitution, and fostering a more inclusive national economy.
