FUTA urges government to suspend trade order amid trader complaints

15 May 2026, 10:39 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

Government of Uganda has once again been urged to suspend the Trade Order as the Federation of Uganda Traders Association (FUTA) negotiates with the relevant authorities.

The appeal was made by FUTA leaders during a press briefing with journalists in Kampala yesterday. The briefing was attended by regional FUTA trade leaders, who explained how the Trade Order has negatively affected their members.

FUTA President John Kabanda said the association had realised that traders were being treated unfairly and called upon local governments to suspend enforcement of the order as negotiations continue with the responsible authorities.

“We were supposed to have a meeting with local government representatives, but it was cancelled due to some reasons. As you can see here, these are trade leaders from various regions of the country. Each of them can tell you how their traders have suffered because of the Trade Order. We urge government to suspend this Trade Order as we negotiate with the responsible authorities.

We also want to urge President Museveni to appoint leaders who care about solving the issues faced by traders. We need people who value traders. We remind our traders who were affected by floods to remain calm because the money the President gave as compensation is available, and we shall ensure that traders receive it,” Kabanda said.

Mugisa Raymond from Kabale District told the media that the Trade Order had greatly affected traders and appealed to enforcement officers to avoid using excessive force.

A representative from Lukaya also said nursery operators had not yet received payment for their coffee as expected.

Meanwhile, a representative from the Jinja region alleged that law enforcement officers mark traders’ property with an “X” and demand Uganda Shillings 200,000 to remove it.

The representative from Hoima City said traders were still being arrested without clear reasons despite having debts to settle, including Parish Development Model (PDM) loans.

Meanwhile, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has suspended on-street parking along Kampala Road.

According to a public notice issued by the Authority, all motorists and the general public are informed that vehicle parking along Kampala and Jinja Roads, from the Entebbe Road junction to the Jinja Road/Yusuf Lule junction near Kitgum House, has been suspended.

“The suspension has been made to improve traffic flow, enhance safety for all road users, and support better mobility within the Central Business District,” the notice reads in part.

KCCA advised motorists to use alternative parking locations including Station Road, Dewinton Road, Nkrumah Road, and commercial off-street parking facilities at the National Theatre, Uganda House, and the multi-storey parking facility along Portal Avenue.

“The general public is urged to cooperate with enforcement officers. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we continue working towards a safer and more efficient city transport system,” the notice concluded.