City traders plan to take businessman Tom Kitandwe to court over alleged violations of their rights. Traders in buildings owned by Kitandwe including Galiraaya, Grand Corner, and Gazaland accuse him of forcibly increasing rent by up to 10%, as well as raising electricity and security fees, which they deem unnecessary. In response, the traders have gone on strike, closing their shops in protest.
During a meeting at Aponye Hotel in Kampala, the tenants expressed frustration over the exorbitant rent increases, describing them as a clear infringement of their rights. They stated that Kitandwe has been raising rents without their consent.
“At the end of last year, he [Kitandwe] increased rent from Shs 800,000 per month to Shs 1 million. Now he wants us to pay Shs 1.5 million,” lamented one of his tenants who operates a shop on Galiraaya.
Robert Rutalo, hired to represent the traders, urged them to remain calm and pledged to file a case against Kitandwe for violating Uganda’s Landlord and Tenant Act.
Meanwhile, Edward Ntale, chairman of the United Traders’ Entrepreneur Association, expressed solidarity with the traders and vowed to support them against the impunity of city landlords. Ntale called the situation “disappointing” and criticized landlords for habitually mistreating traders with excessive rent hikes. He issued an ultimatum to Kitandwe, demanding a reversal of the fee increases by Tuesday, September 11.
Mohammed Ankunda, the District Police Commander at Central Police Station, intervened in the dispute, urging traders to follow the law and avoid causing unrest. He promised to support their efforts to seek justice through legal channels.
