Since the launch of the nationwide traders’ protest around the country, Opposition leader and president of National Unity Platform (NUP) H.E Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu a.k.a Bobi Wine, has come out to show his support to traders who have vowed to show their dissatisfaction towards the government.
Bobi Wine has always called upon Ugandans to protest the unfair treatment caused by the government on its citizens. However, the sit-down strike entered day two without any formal resolution from the government despite holding meetings with the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA).
The traders are protesting against unfair taxation and poor implementation of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoice System (EFRIS) which has caused uproar among most traders. They blame the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) for not teaching and training them about the system.
According to Bobi Wine, the traders should continue protesting because the regime only listens to demonstrations and protests. He further emphasized that protesting is within the law and people should fight for their rights.
As the business community in Uganda protests against prohibitive taxes, we continue to stand in solidarity with them.
What makes these taxes especially wrong and immoral, is that most of the money collected goes to the luxurious and extravagant lifestyle of Gen. Museveni, his family, and cronies, and then another big portion is lost through unabated corruption.
We all have a duty to support and stand in solidarity with the protesting traders because it is not just their issue but our issue. High taxes lead to high commodity prices which in turn affects every citizen!, Bobi Wine commented.
Bobi Wine is an artist who turned into a political activist and later a former presidential political aspirant. He came second in the recently concluded presidential elections after the incumbent president H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni won in the 2021 presidential elections.
In this move, Bobi Wine continues to advocate for the oppressed people since the new taxes affect everyone in the land as traders look for ways how the burden can be taken off their shoulders.
In his speech, he accused and pinned the government for being the cause of all these challenges that are affecting the struggling people.
