Kampala traders demonstrate over increased fees

Photo by Abubaker Lubowa

Businesses have been closed and Police heavily deployed down town Kampala, following a Monday morning demonstration by traders over increased rent fees.

About 1,000 traders who operate from Gaza Land Arcade, Grand Corner House and Garilaya Plaza closed their businesses and poured on Kampala streets protesting what they called unfair rent charges by their respective landlords.

According to one of the traders who talked to Daily Monitor on conditions of anonymity, some of the traders have been paying Shs 1 million as rent fees per month.

“However, when we went to the bank to pay this month’s rent, we were told by the bank that the money had been increased by Shs 200,000 yet the management of the arcade did not even bother to notify or consult us. Is this fair?” he asked.

The traders are also protesting over poor hygiene increased charges of toilet facilities at their places. They claim that initially, they used to pay shs300 to use toilet facilities but this was increased to shs500 without any good reason.

shops closed in protest. Photo by Lubowa Abubaker

Kampala Central Police Station DPC Henry Kintu police are trying to contact the management of the affected arcades and engage them to forge a way forward and ensure that the situation is solved amicably.

“Police is here to maintain peace and order but we are trying to contact the management of the three arcades so that we can engage them and forge a way forward,” said Mr Kintu.