The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has implored Ugandans to rise up against some of the newly approved taxes by parliament and the increasing public debt. Recently, parliament approved a Shillings 100 levy on a litre of petrol and diesel.
Harold Kaija, the Deputy FDC Secretary-General, says the tax will only affect the motorists but all Ugandans in a cumulative manner.
He explains that a Boda boda rider consuming fuel of Shillings 20,000 per day will be required to pay not less than Shillings 200,000 annually compared to Shillings 150,000 that was proposed for the road user license per annum.
He says Ugandans should stop under looking things that affect the country and only wait for the leaders to speak for them.
He also says that the party is concerned about the tax that requires gold exporters to pay US$200 per kilogram of gold.
Kaija explains that a kilogram of gold on the international market costs Shillings 207million, saying that taxing it only US$200 approximately Shillings 722,000 is too little compared to taxes in other sectors.
Kaija says the public should demand to know the beneficiaries from the taxes as Ugandans continue to lament about the bad roads, hospitals and poor public services.
Kaija also says that the party wants the population to demand accountability for the large sums of money acquired through loans that remain redundant yet Ugandans have to pay interest.
Over 20 percent of the money in 2021/22 financial year budget has been earmarked for servicing loan.
However, the government says that borrowing was inevitable as it needed funds to finance the gaps and provide a stimulus package. According to FDC, it does not matter whether the taxes have already been passed by the parliament as long as the population realizes that the taxes are risky.
In April 2021, the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija tabled before parliament 12 taxes under the financial year 2021/2022 budget. They included the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2021, l, 2021, The External Trade (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Mining (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
*******
URN
