Trade minister pledges talks with Finance Ministry and URA over traders’ tax burden
The Minister of Trade, Sanjay Tanna, has pledged to engage the Ministry of Finance and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to address the high tax burden faced by traders and other business operators.
Tanna said the government was aware of the concerns raised by the business community and was committed to finding ways of easing the cost of doing business without undermining its revenue collection efforts.
Speaking to journalists at the Uganda Media Centre while announcing preparations for the National Industrialisation Conference, Tanna said he had already met representatives of different traders’ associations, including the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), to discuss challenges affecting their businesses.
“I have so far met all representatives of traders in Uganda, including KACITA and others. We want to see how best we can address some of the challenges they are facing,” Tanna said.
However, he noted that some of the economic pressures affecting Ugandan businesses were linked to international developments beyond the direct control of the government.
He cited conflicts in the Gulf region and the Russia-Ukraine war, which he said had contributed to global fuel supply challenges and increased pressure on businesses.
Higher fuel prices can raise the cost of transporting goods, manufacturing products and delivering services, eventually pushing up prices for consumers.
Tanna also expressed confidence in the Bank of Uganda’s efforts to contain inflation, saying the Central Bank was working to keep price increases under control and protect the economy from further pressure.
The minister’s remarks come amid continued concerns from traders over taxation, the cost of doing business and the impact of government revenue measures on local enterprises.
The minister made the remarks ahead of the National Industrialisation Conference 2026, which will take place from November 18 to 20 at Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala.
The conference will run under the theme “Celebrating Uganda’s Industrial Growth” and is expected to bring together government officials, manufacturers, investors, development partners and other industry players to discuss ways of strengthening local manufacturing.
Tanna said the meeting would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to examine challenges facing manufacturers, identify investment opportunities and agree on practical measures to accelerate industrial development.
Several government institutions and ministries are expected to participate, including the ministries responsible for energy, East African Community affairs, foreign affairs, and labour.
He emphasised the need to improve the quality of locally manufactured goods so that Ugandan products can compete effectively in both domestic and international markets.
“We must make sure our locally manufactured products are of extremely high quality,” he said.
The conference will also coincide with the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), which has been at the centre of government’s efforts to promote industrial investment and support local enterprises.
The corporation says its investments have supported the creation of more than 5,790 direct jobs and thousands of indirect employment opportunities over the past decade.
Speaking at the same media briefing, UDC Executive Director Patrick B. Birungi said the corporation had invested in 28 companies since its re-establishment in 2016, supporting businesses that contribute to employment, agricultural production and the wider economy.
Birungi said the enterprises supported by UDC collectively purchase more than 35,000 tonnes of agricultural produce from farmers every year, providing a market for local agricultural products and supporting household incomes.
