By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Uganda Tax Agents Association (UTAA) has pledged to support traders whose businesses and tax documents were destroyed by last week’s floods in Kampala.
Heavy rains that pounded the city on Friday left several traders counting losses, especially those operating along the Nakivubo Channel currently under redevelopment by businessman Hamis Kiggundu (HAM). The floods destroyed merchandise worth millions of shillings.
The disaster prompted the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) council to hold a tense meeting on Monday, with members disagreeing on whether to suspend or continue the ongoing drainage works. Some councillors demanded that the project be halted to allow investigations into its impact, while others insisted it should proceed to completion.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja visited the affected traders and inspected several buildings along Sebaana Kizito Road, including Ssekaziga, Totala, Pentagon, and Nana shopping centres. She assured traders that government would consider a compensation plan for those who lost property in the floods.
Many of the traders expressed fear that they may still be required to meet their tax obligations despite their losses.
UTAA spokesperson John Jet Tusabe said the association will act as a link between traders and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to ensure fair handling of tax matters.
“This is a difficult time for traders. We are stepping in to help them reconcile with URA and ensure no one is unfairly penalized,” Tusabe said.
He added that UTAA will advocate for special consideration for traders whose tax documents were destroyed.
UTAA chairperson Geoffrey Tayebwa described the situation as “unfortunate,” noting that it would be unfair for URA to enforce tax compliance on flood-affected traders without assessing their circumstances.
“We are in talks with URA to find an understanding, especially on VAT obligations. Traders should not panic,” Tayebwa assured.
The flooding incident has reignited public debate on the safety of the ongoing Nakivubo Channel redevelopment project and its impact on nearby businesses.
