Controversial Bukoto Central Legislator Richard Ssebamala has asked fellow political opposition politicians to use the trader’s tax grievances against Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to push President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni out of power.
He claims that in many countries that had political revolutions, traders were very fundamental because they are the ones who pays taxes that run the country.
He adds that he is very sure that if the political opportunity is carefully used, it can spark the overthrow of the Museveni government.
He explains that for a long time, Museveni have been controlling traders which has led to many dissociating themselves from the opposition. But now, they are the ones looking for them.
He notes that because Museveni is in a financial crisis, he cannot resolve the issue of taxes since he needs money to facilitate his stay in power.
That is why and traders also should be encouraged to continue placing on the button very sure that positive political results will be yielded.
He made the allegation as Museveni plans to meet traders again at Kololo independence grounds on 7th May 2024 to make his final announcement of the issue of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing System (EFRIS) which traders are protesting.
Uganda Revenue Authority’s John Musinguzi Rujoki the Commissioner General insists that EFRIS is the only way that will help both government and traders reach a fair ground when it comes to tax collection.
Fred Bamwine the Commissioner in the president’s office declared that the current practice that URA is using to collect taxes is here to stay.
Meanwhile, as the traders are strategising and holding frequent meetings on the way forward after Museveni’s Kololo meeting, Brig. Gen. Christopher Ddamulira Sserunjogi the Director Crime Intelligence in police has saved him from another nasty strike.
Noordin Mukuye the chairperson of the Aggrieved Oppressed Voiceless Tax Drivers Kampala Uganda confirmed to theGrapevine that they have cancelled their planned strike which was take place on 29th April 2024.
He explains that the cancellation of their meeting comes days after meeting Brig. Gen. Ddamulira convinced them that their grievances are going to be forwarded to the concerned government offices and they will be addressed within the shortest time.
Mukuye who is also the Masuulita tax park stage chairperson said that in their meeting with Brig. Gen. Ddamulira, they pleaded with him to help them talk to Works and Transport Senior Minister Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Dr. Dorothy Kisaka, Maj. Gen. Godfrey Katsigazi the Acting Inspector General of Police and URA’s Rujoki to address their complaints.
Among the issues they want government officials to address include; express ticket, high fuel prices, paying for Public Service Vehicle, Park User fee which they pay annually and other taxes which they pay both in URA and in KCCA.
Mukuye and his team also want the concerned government offices to organise the election of their new leaders which will help them solve their grievances after accusing the current leadership of their umbrella body the Federation of Uganda Taxi Operators (UTOF ) of using the offices to enrich themselves.
Mukuye accuses UTOF chairperson Rashid Ssekindi of leading a team criminals who mistreat and torture taxi drivers and conductors to force them to pay illegal money to them and when the they refuse, they confiscate their cars.
He added that each day, each car pays between Shs.4000- Shs.5000 in a public park in Kampala yet president Museveni banned such payment.
“We are working under a challenging situation and we need help from government. We are tortured in public like kids and our children and wives no longer respect us because they see us being tortured by Ssekindi’s men in public. Meanwhile, KCCA is looking on and we want the president to handle our issue as he did to traders,” Mukuye said.
theGrapevine has also established that bus drivers and operators at Namayuba bus park are also planning to strike over the high taxes URA and KCCA collect from them.
City businessman John Bosco Muwonge who is the owner of the park has also added another Shs50,000 on the amount of money they pay claiming that URA has also raised the tax he pays.
However, when contacted, Moses Birungi Mawejje the spokesperson of UTOF denied all the allegations placed on their federation and their chairperson Ssekindi.
He advised his colleagues that they are not going to resolve their issues through striking.
Deo Kiyemba of Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) has disclosed that the problem is not that Ugandans don’t want to pay taxes but the problem is with government which uses taxpayers money in luxurious spending and corruption practices.
He was supported by Makerere University senior Economist Dr. Fred Muhumuza who advised government to reduce luxurious expenditure because Ugandans are also struggling financially.
By Hadijjah Namagembe
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