Buveera users face Shs14m in fines

The government yesterday tabled a proposal in Parliament imposing a fine of Shs14 million on users, importers and manufacturers of banned carrier plastic bags (buveera) amid protest from traders.

The fine is contained in the new amendments to the Finance Bill, 2010 in which Finance Minister Syda Bbumba has proposed radical measures to implement a ‘failed ban’ on buveera in order to protect the environment.

“A person who imports, manufactures, sells or uses sacks and bags of polymers of ethane and polythene in contravention of the (law) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of seven hundred currency points (equivalent to Shs14 million)”.

An earlier government directive issued in the 2009/10 budget speech had stopped use, manufacture and importation of polythene bags of 30 microns or less. However, some MPs led by the Natural Resources Committee are pushing for a sweeping ban to protect the environment.

Since June 2009, the proposed ban on buveera and a ban on the importation of second hand freezers, refrigerators, computers and television sets remained on paper despite calls by environmentalists to implement the ban.

Ms Bbumba announced the ban while presenting budget estimates last year. It was to start immediately but traders and manufacturers petitioned the government and secured an extension which the government at the time said was to help clear stock.

Kampala City Traders Association spokesperson Issa Ssekito yesterday described the new government proposal as ‘rubbish’.
“This is sheer rubbish and it’s going to fail because it’s not practical,” Mr Ssekitto said. “Forcing traders, manufacturers and users of these plastic bags to pay a fine of Shs14 million on conviction is not the best way of protecting environment and this proposal is destined to fail.”

To substitute the use of polythene bags in the country, the minister in another Bill titled: Value-Added-Tax (Amendments) Bill, 2010, which was also tabled yesterday, exempted VAT on the supply of biodegradable packaging materials.

Earlier protests
The proposals are, however, subject to parliamentary approval. The Deputy Speaker, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, yesterday forwarded the new Bill tabled by the junior Finance minister, Mr Fred Omach, to the Finance Committee for further scrutiny.
Earlier, as Mr Omach tabled the new Bill, Mbarara MP John Arimpa Kigyaji sought the Speaker’s attention and put the government on notice that he intended to move a motion blocking the approval of the 2010/11 Budget if the government doesn’t implement the ban on buveera.

Last year, Water and Environment Minister Maria Mutagamba, who previously objected to the ban, citing unemployment, promised to support it.

In the same Bill, the Finance Minister has confirmed the government promise to reduce registration fees for boda-bodas.