Talk to KCCA
KCCA's Digital Citizen Engagement Platform
Overview
KCCA has established a dedicated digital platform to strengthen dialogue with trade license holders across Kampala. The platform provides a secure and direct communication channel between KCCA and trade license holders, enabling consistent information sharing and systematic feedback collection.
You can reach the platform via WhatsApp at the official account Talk to KCCA (see FAQ for more details). Messages from KCCA will always come from this account, which you can verify on the official KCCA website.
By leveraging mobile technology, the platform provides trade license holders with a reliable mechanism to raise questions, share concerns, and express priorities, facilitating more consistent information sharing and a more systematic collection of feedback. The platform is currently being piloted in selected parishes across Kampala, with the intention of informing future scale-up across the city.
Why This Initiative Matters
Many trade license holders require clearer guidance on trade license procedures, renewal timelines, administrative requirements, and the broader policy environment. Yet communication between KCCA and trade license holders has traditionally relied on physical visits, public notices, or indirect channels.
The KCCA citizen engagement platform complements these efforts by establishing a structured communication system accessible via WhatsApp that enables two-way dialogue between KCCA and trade license holders. KCCA also seeks more reliable insights into the needs, priorities, and concerns of business owners to improve service delivery and enhance responsiveness. The platform is designed to ensure that trade license holders' views are systematically captured and addressed. Sharing opinions and active engagement is crucial
How the Platform Works
The platform operates via WhatsApp using a secure messaging infrastructure. During the pilot, randomly selected trade license holders receive an invitation message to join. Participation is entirely voluntary.
Upon consent, the platform will occasionally send messages to collect opinions on KCCA-related public matters, share updates about KCCA initiatives, and provide relevant information. Users can also send messages for general feedback, suggestions, or to request information about collected data. The platform can handle both text and voice messages, processed through secure systems.
Data is stored in a protected environment with strictly limited access. Individual messages are handled confidentially and are neither publicly disclosed nor used in a manner that could identify or disadvantage a specific business. Public communication relies solely on aggregated, non-identifiable themes and official responses shared through KCCA's dedicated webpage.
The platform incorporates clear consent procedures, straightforward opt-out options, and robust data protection safeguards to ensure responsible handling of information and to protect participating businesses from any risk.
Project Team
The platform is implemented by KCCA in collaboration with academic partners providing advisory support in digital governance, public finance, and citizen engagement. Institutional partners include Makerere University, Maastricht University (UNU-MERIT), and Utrecht University. The initiative is coordinated closely with KCCA's Directorate of Revenue Collection and relevant administrative departments.
For enquiries, please contact: info@resonance-platform.org
Funding Sources
The platform is supported through a combination of institutional research funding, including the J-PAL Governance Initiative, the Dutch Research Council (NWO), and the International Growth Centre (IGC), and in-kind contributions from KCCA, including administrative data access, technical coordination, and staff time. Usage and participation are free of charge for trade license holders. All funding and financial arrangements are managed in accordance with the policies and standards of the participating institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is this platform?
This is KCCA's digital citizen engagement platform, enabling structured interaction between KCCA and registered trade license holders in Kampala. It allows KCCA to share important updates and gives license holders a direct channel to provide feedback and ask questions.
2. How will I receive messages?
Messages are sent through the platform's official WhatsApp Business account, listed under the name Talk to KCCA, to the phone number provided during business registration. You will first receive an introductory message outlining the platform's purpose and inviting you to participate.
3. Who receives the messages?
The platform is currently being piloted in selected parishes across Kampala. During this pilot phase, only a randomly selected group of registered trade license holders are invited to join. Not all trade license holders will receive messages at this stage. The pilot allows KCCA and its partners to test and refine the platform's design, assess how effectively it supports communication, and gather feedback to guide improvements.
4. Is participation mandatory?
No. Participation is entirely voluntary. You may choose to continue or decline after receiving the introductory message.
5. What if I don't respond?
If you choose not to participate, there are no penalties. Participation is voluntary and does not affect your trade license status.
6. Can I leave the platform after joining?
Yes. You may stop participating at any time by sending a request through WhatsApp. You will no longer receive non-essential messages from the platform.
7. What kind of messages will I receive?
Messages may include short surveys about business needs and experiences, renewal reminders, administrative updates, or clarification of procedures. Communication is designed to be relevant and limited to important information.
8. How often will I receive messages?
Messages are sent only when relevant, such as during renewal periods or when important updates are available.
9. Can I send questions or feedback?
Yes. Participating businesses may submit questions, comments, or voice notes at any time through the platform's WhatsApp account.
10. Will my feedback affect inspections or enforcement?
No. Feedback provided through the platform is handled confidentially and is not linked to enforcement decisions. The purpose of the platform is to improve communication and service delivery.
11. Does it cost anything to participate?
No. Usage and participation are free of charge. Standard mobile data charges from your service provider may apply.
12. Will KCCA ask me to make payments through this platform?
No. The platform does not process payments and will never request mobile money details, bank information, or payment confirmations.
13. Can I update my contact information?
Yes. Participating businesses may request updates to their contact details through the platform.
14. Is my information secure?
Yes. Messages are transmitted through encrypted WhatsApp channels and processed using secure systems. Data is stored in a protected environment with strictly limited access. Individual responses are handled confidentially, are not publicly disclosed, and are not used in a way that could identify or disadvantage a specific business. Public updates rely only on aggregated, non-identifiable information.
15. Who has access to my messages?
Access to data is strictly limited to the academic partners responsible for managing the platform under defined data protection protocols. Individual responses are not made public.
16. How do I know this is not a scam?
Messages are sent only from the Talk to KCCA WhatsApp account. Information about the platform is available on the official KCCA website. You will never be asked to provide passwords, banking details, or personal financial information through this platform. If you have any concerns, please contact: info@resonance-platform.org
Development partners