Kampala minister Beti Kamya to meet city traders on rent increment issues

By Namugerwa Martha

The cabinet minister of Kampala Capital City Authority Hon. Beti Kamya has planned a meeting with Kampala city traders to talk about rent wages which are rapidly being increased by the land lords of buildings where the traders rent.

Kamya organized the meeting between her and the traders to reduce the conflict between tenants and landlords of the arcades in the city because of rent dues.

Kato Hussein the chairman of traders renting on the Mini price Arcade said that traders have constantly striked over rent increment almost every week but the landlords have paid a deaf ear about their issue.

He said that Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) levied a high amount of property tax to the landlords which forces them to increase the rent of their buildings.

“A landlord, who was paying Shs15m property tax for a building, was levied to pay Shs45m by June 1, 2017. Property tax is paid annually on six per cent of the rateable value of the property,” Kato said.

Kato added that the Rent for a shop in Kampala City is above Shs1m in addition to power bills and every shop owner must also pay trading license, which ranges from Shs175,000 to Shs1.5m, to KCCA which forces many traders to leave the city and decide to operate  their businesses outside the Kampala city.

“Uganda Revenue Authority also taxes income tax per shop. The smallest shop pays Shs600,000 in income tax,” kato added.

He further added that they have constantly tried to reach their land lord Mr. Drake Lubega who refused to meet and talk to them and that forced them to ask for a meeting with Hon. Kamya to talk about their problems and also help them find solutions.

However, Drake Lubega said that those traders who constantly strike over his building’s rent are not his tenants they are just bragging nonsense.