Bwanika to widen tax base

Mr Abed Bwanika. File Photo

Rakai.

Presidential candidate Abed Bwanika has promised to broaden the country’s tax base and empower citizens to create their own income generating projects without necessarily waiting for handouts from the government.

While campaigning at Mutukula border post and Kyotera Town in Rakai District last Thursday, the People’s Development Party candidate said if elected president, he will ensure that Ugandans have viable income generating projects to be able to pay taxes, which will be fairly levied.

‘’Empowering people to fully engage in growing cash crops will be one of the top priorities for my government. This will enable people to raise enough money from which they can pay taxes,’’ he said.

His address, however, fell short of more proposals on how he would widen the country’s tax base. The country’s tax base has remained small and different players have suggested ways of how to widen it in the wake of decreasing donor funding and financing of the national budget.

Bwanika, who is running for presidency for a third time, said Ugandans have become too poor, which he blamed on widespread corruption and bad governance, which he said had deprived them of decent education, health and good roads.
While at Kakuuto Trading Centre, Bwanika met bare-footed children vending matooke on bicycles and he promised to pay for their school fees as a sign of improving education standards in the country.