Francis Kagolo
7 October 2008
Kampala — TRADERS on City House in Kampala on Monday protested against rent increment.
Most shops remained closed for most of the day until a meeting was called to resolve the stand-off.
About 300 tenants sat on the verandah of the house which is located at the junction of Dustar and William streets.
Traders said the lowest rent charged was about sh850,000 for the upper rooms.
Those operating from the lower shops paid over 4.4m
"The proportion of the increment is unrealistic and unfair. It has become a habit to increase," read a statement from the traders.
The house, managed by Crane Management Services Ltd, belongs to city mogul Sudhir.
However, according to September 17 letters the tenants, the rent increment ranged from sh800, 000 and sh1.5m.
The rent was supposed to take effect from December 1.
The traders gave Sudhir a two-day ultimatum to meet them, or drop the increment.
The traders also attacked Sudhir over failure to renovate the house, saying most of the rooms were dilapidated.
Sudhir, however, said the increment was inevitable.
He argued that the prices of several services had increased over the last one year and all the shops around the area were paying the same amount.
"The inflation rate has increased by 16%. The general cost of utilities has gone up. We have to maintain the building," he said.
Another meeting was called yesterday to discuss the matter. The traders asked Kampala City Traders' Association, RDC Alice Muwanguzi to mediate.
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