City Businessmen have threatened to stage a massive demonstration in the city centre if government doesn’t open arcades in 5 days.
Traders, led by Former Makerere University researcher, Dr. Stella Nyanzi made threats on Wednesday July 8, 2020 while addressing the media at Nakasero, in Kampala.
It’s from here Traders called on Gov’t to reopen arcades and announce a relief package for those most affected by Coronavirus.
Among others, the traders demanded for a waiver on rent and taxes, and increase in working hours.
“If the demands are not met, we have decided to hold protests starting July 13,” the traders announced.
The traders say they have lost both money and goods mostly those who deal with perishable products.
Meanwhile, Police have since arrested a number of traders including the aspirant for Kampala Woman Member of Parliament, Dr Stella Nyanzi.
Nyanzi was picked near Nakasero market where together with two others had gone to mobilize arcade traders to protest the continued lockdown on their businesses.
Nyanzi, who has expressed interest in contesting for the Kampala Woman Member of Parliament position, says its wrong for the government to continue denying the people working from arcades to resume their businesses for the fear of the spread of the coronavirus.
Speaking to reporters at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Wednesday, Patrick Onyango, the spokesperson of Kampala Metropolitan police said its fruitless for any group to think that they can demonstrate to force the government to reopen their businesses. He cautioned traders not to be used by politicians whose only aim is to advance their political interests.
Onyango said Nyanzi together with the colleagues are going to be charged in court with two counts; incitement and engaging in acts that are likely to cause the spread of the coronavirus.
People especially those whose businesses remain under lockdown have increasingly become agitated with the government. Some have questioned the rationale behind opening some businesses and leaving others closed yet all of them deal with the same people.
Currently, Uganda’s coronavirus cases stand at 977. Of these, 904 people have recovered.
