Entebbe Town Clerk addresses private sector on business prospect

The Entebbe municipal council Town clerk, Emmanuel Gacharo Mugisha, on March 19, 2025, addressed traders in the private sector on the prospect of enhancing business within the municipality. Town Clerk Emmanuel Gacharo Mugisha believes this can be achieved through organizing business summits and expo adding that this makes it easier for council to interact with the business community to know the problems they encounter in execution of their businesses. He revealed while officiating the opening ceremony of the sixth business summit and expo held at Entebbe mayor’s Gardens.

Town Clerk Emanuel Mugisha says such a business summit and expo provides a big platform for the business community to air out issues affecting the private sector such as double taxation and that this provides a basis for council to react on such issues.

‘We are here to hear from the business community on how we perform our traditional roles as local government on service delivery , infrastructure development in addition to facilitating business to thrive and prosper, “ said Town clerk Emmanuel Mugisha adding that in the last 5years council has been able to bridge the gap between the business community and local government.

‘Nowadays, the business community can easily approach us and we have made our processes easier. Our relationship with the business community is at its best due to continuous engagement with them.

‘We are also closely working together with Entebbe National chamber of commerce plus all actors in the business community.’

The President of Entebbe National Chamber of Commerce, John Socratis Mugabi, says through continuous engagement between council and the business community, the private business sector has been able to negotiate with council to offer incentives to business starters.

“In 2020/2021, our youths had a problem of paying trade license , we engaged council and agreed to offer all business starters incentives in form of a grace period.

‘Ever since we incepted the business summit 5 years ago, we have been able to reach out to various business entities such as UMEME, National Water and Sewerage Corporation among others and many traders have been connected to these entities.

‘The business summit and expo has provided a big platform to connect tourism operators to tourists. I request all business operators to embrace digital technology .As I talk now, over 80 business operators are registered online, and this has been made possible through participation in business summit, “Mr.Mugabi revealed.’

Mugabi revealed that it’s absurd that Bazaar bookshop- the oldest bookshop in Entebbe is soon closing business due to over taxation. He however, pledged to raise the issue to the Ministry of Finance, Auditor General’s office and Uganda Revenue Authority so as to rescue the bookshop.

The proprietor of Bazaar Bookshop, Mr. Vensa Baryomu, revealed that he has decided to close his business which has been in place for the last 40years due to bad taxation regime. He said is required to pay taxes worth Shs 80 million every year yet his business can’t make profits to that tune.

“I have been selling educational materials for the last 40 years but now due to over taxation I have decided to pull out of the business. Because of miscalculation by Uganda Revenue Authority, Iam now out of the business. The tax that has been imposed on my bookshop is much higher than what I can sell.

‘ I have stopped distributing newspapers in Abaita and Entebbe town. I have decided to close my bookshop because of the bad tax regime. I have tried to explain to URA over this issue but in vain. Actually, where the miscalculation came from nobody knows, “Mr.Baryomu explained.’