Kaboha
Residents of Fort Portal City are raising concern over a weakening shilling, rising commodity prices and higher taxes on retail shops.
Traders in the city center and in Mpanga and Kabudaire markets say local property taxes, new fuel levies and falling consumer spending are pushing small businesses toward closure unless taxes are reviewed and the currency stabilizes.
Local resident Kagoro Simple says the falling shilling has pushed up the prices of goods and services. Petrol and diesel now cost between 6,800 and 7,000 shillings a liter, transport fares have risen, and food and other essentials are expensive.
Electronics dealer Kenneth Murungi says some businesses have laid off over half of their workers just to stay afloat. He says government expects higher fees and taxes, yet customers have no money left for anything beyond basic food.
Murungi adds that although Fort Portal became a city in 2020, its small population keeps the consumer base small. He urges government to set up factories and industrial parks to attract more people to the city.