Residents to petition President over income tax Bill

Petitioning. The board chairman Kick Corruption out of Uganda, Fr Gaetano Batanyenda (centre), with other stakeholders during the meeting on Monday in Kabale Town. PHOTO BY ROBERT MUHEREZA

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Condition. The residents say if the MPs continue demanding for tax exemptions on their allowances, then the allowances of district and sub-county councillors should also not be taxed.

Kabale. More than 500 residents of Kigezi sub-region have resolved to petition President Museveni asking him never to assent to the now controversial Income Tax Amendment Bill.
In the Bill, Members of Parliament are seeking tax exemption on their allowances.
President Museveni last month for the third time rejected the controversial Income Tax Amendment Bill that seeks to exempt MPs’ emoluments from taxes, citing anomalies in the proposed law.
Previously, the President wrote to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga warning that MPs lack the “moral right” to exempt any of their emoluments from taxes and that doing so “would send a dangerous message” to other Ugandans who might also be tempted to join the bandwagon.
The residents have also threatened to work with the President to evoke Article 83(c) of the Constitution to dissolve parliament, accusing MPs of spearheading selfish attitudes and evading taxes.
They made the resolution on Monday during a sensitisation meeting organised by Kick Corruption out of Uganda, a local non-governmental organisation, in Kabale Town.
They also said there is need for a referendum on whether to scrap Article 85(1) from the Constitution that empowers MPs to decide on their emoluments, gratuity and facilities because they feel it is being misused.
“If district and sub-county councillors pay 30 per cent of their monthly allowances, why should MPs present a Bill to exempt their allowances from being taxed? Article 17 of the Constitution explains the duties of Ugandan citizens on paying taxes and when MPs start passing Bills on tax exemptions, it means that they are not Ugandans and they should be forced out of Parliament,” Fr Gaetano Batanyenda, the board chairman of Kick Corruption out of Uganda, said.
He added: “It’s, therefore, our duty to sign an open letter to the President backing him to continuously reject the signing on the Income Tax Bill.”
Former Resident District Commissioner for KibaleGeorge Rutaki said members of the Constituent Assembly should be blamed for giving too much powers to MPs at the time when the Constitution was being made, especially on matters affecting their emoluments, gratuity and facilities.
The district council speaker, Ms Loy Zikampereza, also promised to table the discussion before her council, arguing that if the MPs continue demanding for tax exemptions on their allowances, the allowances of district and sub-county councillors should also not be taxed.