URA to Reorganise Traders’ Meeting After Disruption

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has blamed what it described as “hired disruptive elements” for the disruption of a meeting with traders in Kampala on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

The meeting, scheduled for 2 p.m., was intended to address concerns involving the payment of taxes in Kenya on textiles destined for Uganda, textile smuggling, a new cargo clearance process for buses transporting textiles and delays in customs clearance.

URA also planned to discuss enforcement of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution, particularly among city landlords, as well as revenue leakages arising from container leading.

In a statement, the authority said it had received intelligence that some individuals had been recruited to disrupt the meeting and encourage traders in the Central Business District to strike.

“In preparation for the meeting, URA received intelligence information that some disruptive elements had been hired to disrupt the meeting and stir up a strike among traders in the Central Business District (CBD),” the authority said.

URA said it consequently arranged for participants to leave their mobile phones at the registration desk before entering the meeting venue. While some traders initially complied, the arrangement was later challenged after the alleged disruptors arrived.

“However, upon the arrival of the hired disruptive elements, the requirement to leave the phones was questioned. Subsequently, several traders retrieved their phones, remained outside the meeting hall and declined to enter, despite efforts by URA leadership to engage them and encourage their participation,” the statement said.

The authority expressed regret over the incident and accused the alleged disruptors of infiltrating the gathering of genuine traders to destabilise the meeting.

“URA highly regrets the disruption and condemns the hired disruptive elements who infiltrated the gathering of actual traders, with a scheme of destabilising the meeting,” it said.

URA reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue with the business community, saying it would continue engaging taxpayers on concerns affecting trade, tax administration and the wider business environment.

“We remain committed to listening, engaging and working with taxpayers to build a stronger partnership for national development,” the authority said.

It added that a fresh meeting would be organised soon with what it described as “actual traders.”