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Three traders arrested for protesting against Labour Day celebrations
Police officers arrest one of the traders who were protesting against Labour Day celebrations in Agago District in northern Uganda on May 1, 2019. PHOTOS BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
Police in Kampala have arrested three members of Kampala Arcades Traders' Association who on Wednesday demonstrated against the national Labour Day celebrations in Agago District in northern Uganda.
The traders say, it is not necessary for Ugandans to celebrate the day because they are chocking on high taxes and exorbitant rental fees which has led many business people to close shop. Police deployed heavily in downtown Kampala to suppress the strike.
In Agago, President Museveni in his speech said that for an economy to gain strength, it has to rely on strong private and business sector.
"The United States of America is the richest country, not because of it's leaders but because of the business people. Leaders in the US are seasonal, in four years they are looking for a new leader, just playing around," Mr Museveni said.
The President added: “Africa needs to wake up and know that the strength of their respective economies is the private sector. For that reason, by working on electricity and transport, we are making it easier for the private people to come and invest in Uganda. We have done all this by prioritising. You cannot do this by doing all things at a go."
The president also launched the Employment Diagnostic Analysis Report.
In the next decade, the World Bank estimates that one billion young people will enter the labour market. Of these, only 40 per cent are predicted to find work if the job market remains unchanged.
However, Mr Museveni reiterated the need for commercial farming as one of the ways of creating more jobs and fighting unemployment in Uganda.
"Once you engage in commercial farming, you create jobs internally - on top of what the foreigners are bringing," Mr Museveni said.
