In the recent Local Council 1 (LC1) campaign trails, communities raised concerns of the unexplained percentages demanded by the LCs when it comes to purchasing and selling land. This has landed most of them in trouble with the Land Inquiry Commission headed by Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire.
Its on this note that the Minister of State for Local Government, Jennifer Namuyangu, has ordered all Local Council 1 Chairpersons countrywide to stop charging the 10 % fee from each land transaction in their areas because the charge is not recognized in any of the Ugandan’s Tax Acts.
She said this while addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on 24th July 2018, and insisted that any chairperson who continues to charge the fee will face prosecution and will be apprehended for abuse of office and corruption.
“The 10 % is illegal. People created it and it could be because of the holiday we have had since 2005 under the multiparty dispensation. The ministry will direct on what is supposed to be done about this issue, but LC chairpersons should desist from it immediately,” urged Jennipher.
Benjamin Kumumanya, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, recapitulated his boss’ directive and said village chairpersons are by law paid 25 per cent of revenue from the sub-county level.
“This money is what the LC1 chairpersons should use as facilitation for their work. We did this because we knew they needed some stationery and transport facilitation for different errands. We shall issue a statement to give direction on this matter after the whole process is finished,” Kumumanya said.
On July 10 2018, Uganda conducted elections for LC1 chairpersons for the first time since 2002.
They followed women representatives on July 3 2018.
The Minister for Local government, Col Tom Butime said the LC2 elections will be held 25th July 2018 and urged all eligible voters to go and vote for their leaders.
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