Kampala city landlords have continued to demand rent arrears for the shops that have been closed since issuing of a lockdown in early March. In a notice sent to tenants over the weekend, city landlord, Drake Lubega provided four bank accounts on which his tenants should deposit the arrears.

“Our dear tenants, we kindly request you to use the following bank accounts for banking your rent as we face Covid-19,” the notice read in part.

However, the traders say they are unable to clear up because they have not been working for the last three months.

“It was the government that sent us home. And while we continue sitting at home, looking for money to buy maize flour, some landlords like Drake Lubega have sent us rent demand notices,” Godfrey Katongole, the chairman of Arcade Traders Association, told journalists.

“If I have not worked, it means I won’t be able to pay. We are asking for a waiver for the three months,” he added.

The rent notice comes at a time when a section of traders have petitioned the High Court in Kampala seeking its intervention not to pay the arrears.