Press conference · Kampala · 14 September 2026
FUTA is ready to work with State House, Finance and the Prime Minister
President John Kabanda told journalists that traders want a working relationship with government — and that signed commitments, including relief money, must now move from paper to payment.
Kampala — Federation of Uganda Traders Associations (FUTA) President John Kabanda told a press conference that the federation wants a constructive working relationship with government, so that the concerns of traders are handled by the offices responsible for them.
Kabanda said FUTA is ready to work with State House, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance, and other government offices already seized of traders’ files. He asked officials who have already signed off processes to complete them, rather than leaving traders waiting while money sits inside government.
The federation’s position is practical: lists of affected traders must be fair, small operators must not be written out, and funds that have been appropriated — including flood relief — should reach the people they were meant for.
“We want to have a good relationship,” Kabanda said, standing with FUTA officials as media houses including Premier TV recorded the briefing. He stressed that traders are not looking for a fight with the state. They are looking for delivery.
FUTA will continue to engage the Public Service, Finance and State House tracks so that what has been agreed is implemented. Members who were affected by floods, arcade enforcement or tax changes are asked to work through the federation’s vetting structures rather than competing lists that delay everybody.
Federation of Uganda Traders Associations · Park Mpya Mall, Kampala