The Uganda National Traders Alliance (UNATA) will on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, hold a consultative tour with traders in Kabale under their umbrella body, the Kabale Municipality Traders’ Association (KMTA).
The initiative aims to empower local traders, amplify their voices, and bridge the gap between them and the government.
According to UNATA President Godfrey Katongole, this engagement is part of a nationwide series of consultative tours that have already reached traders in Kasese, Masaka, Fort Portal, Gulu, Mubende, Soroti and Mbale.
The tour continues to Kabale and Mbarara before concluding in Jinja City on May 13, 2025, where traders from the entire Busoga region will be engaged.
Simon Sezzi, UNATA General Secretary, said the tours were prompted by growing concerns among traders about poor working conditions and limited support for business growth.
Michael Byamungu Turyamureba Rwasabutare, Chairman of KMTA, confirmed that the Kabale consultative meeting will be held at Kirigime Guest House in Southern Division, Kabale Municipality.
He emphasized that the meeting will serve as a platform to identify key challenges facing traders in Kabale District, propose practical solutions, and build a unified strategy for improving commerce and trade in the region.
Byamungu noted that the session will be presided over by UNATA President Godfrey Katongole, accompanied by other high-level delegates from the association.
“UNATA seeks not only to address traders’ grievances but also to promote local manufacturing, import substitution, and drive the development of a stronger, more inclusive national economy,” Byamungu said.
He added that the insights gathered from the nationwide consultations will be compiled into a comprehensive report to be presented to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, outlining both challenges and actionable recommendations from traders across the country.
Among the common issues affecting traders in Kabale, Byamungu cited abrupt rent hikes, low awareness about taxation policies, and the absence of industrial parks. He also highlighted the presence of international hawkers posing as investors, limited public services in urban centers, and the growing concerns of youth unemployment and lack of technical skills.
Byamungu urged all traders in Kabale to participate actively in the consultative tour, saying, “This is an opportunity for us to be heard and to shape the future of our businesses and community.”
