Origin · 17 January 2025
How FUTA was born: one umbrella after the EFRIS stand-off
President Museveni asked traders to form one national body. FUTA is that body — and it still sits with URA so new tax systems are consulted, not imposed.
FUTA exists because traders refused to be taxed in the dark. During the nationwide reaction to URA’s Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS), media houses — notably Nation Media Group — gave traders a platform. That coverage led to a meeting with President Museveni.
At that meeting the President told URA to consult traders before rolling out new systems. He also asked business people from across the country to form one umbrella, instead of leaving national policy to a Kampala-only association.
John Kabanda, then as now President, and Vice Chairman Peter Kasozi built that umbrella. FUTA now represents micro, small, medium and large enterprises, and remains the channel through which URA, KCCA and State House hear traders from Masaka, Gulu, Mbale and the city together.
The federation later presented a plaque of thanks to NTV Uganda and Spark TV for insisting that tax officials listen. The lesson has not changed: consult first, then implement.
Federation of Uganda Traders Associations · Park Mpya Mall, Kampala