The MPs who include the MP for Ntungamo Municipality Gerald Karuhanga, Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu known as Bobi wine, Bugabula South MP Henry Kibalya and Soroti Municipality MP Herbert Ariko have started signing the petition that require 150 MPs to recall  parliament from recess and overturn the taxes on Social Media and Mobile Money.

Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu among the members who have started signing the petition that require 150 MPs to recall  parliament from recess and overturn the taxes on Social Media and Mobile Money. File Photo

On Sunday the government started collecting one percent on every transaction on mobile money and 200 daily levy from all people that access social media platforms but ever since they were effected many Ugandans have been opposing it.

 The Member of Parliament said that they want this tax adjusted after hearing public outcry, adding that this tax was imposed before carrying out through investigations and analysis. He said that this tax will affect students and parents paying school fees.

The member of parliament for Kyadondo East Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu said that they have options which will be used to resist this tax ,if the government fails to listen to public outcry .

The Soroti municipality mp Herbert Ariko said that the tax has suppressed the public and there is need to make the revision in the law.

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This as she issued a whipping warning letter that states that the next session will attract disciplinary proceedings against any Member of Parliament who will absent themselves from committee work.

Kadaga’s letter was based on a performance report of the committees and individual Members of Parliament, adding that those dodging the committee work violate rules 111(7) and 112(2) of the Rules of Procedure.

A source who did not want to make his name public said that this report is implicating most of the MPs of low attendance of the committee work.

The speaker noted that as a result, most of the work in plenary comes from Committees, and failure by a Committee to effectively handle business before, it adversely affects the performance of Parliament in general.

The speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has started the process of name and shame of Members of Parliament who dodge the committee sittings. File photo

However the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament who is also Soroti District Woman MP Angeline Assege said that the speaker has only pointed out those who don’t come to Committees, questioning about those who don’t attend plenary.

Assege said that the speaker has not done anything about MPs dodging plenary proceedings to the extent that some miss house for 15 sittings and she doesn’t do anything.

She said that there should have been a certain level of discipline instilled in MPs to know that they are being paid to do work for this country. She reminded MPs that each one of them represents people that nobody else represents.

The member of parliament for Bugabula South Henry Maurice Kibalya said that there is need to make the names of Members of Parliament who absent themselves from the committee public so that the voters can know which MPs are carrying out their representation roles and said that even the problem of social media tax is because some MPs were not around.

Workers members of parliament Dr. Sam Lyomoki said that that even though the system is good but they should not look at attendance only but also emphasize the quality of debate in Parliament.

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Uganda Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija displays a briefcase carrying national budget before presenting it to the nation during a budget speech.

Members of Parliament on the finance committee have opposed government’s proposal to tax Saccos and individuals engaged in agriculture.
The proposals that also include a ban on importation of vehicles older than eight years are contained in tax bills for the financial year 2018/2019.
The eight tax bills, which are being considered by the Parliament Committee on Finance, include the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill 2018, Lotteries and Gaming (Amendment) Bill 2018, the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2018 and The Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 2018.
The Minister of State for Finance (Planning), David Bahati, who presented the bills to the Committee on 24 April, 2018 defended the proposals and denied that they were intended to burden Ugandans.
Hon. Moses Walyomu (NRM, Kagoma County) noted that reinstating the tax on Saccos despite a government commitment to the contrary, will discourage Ugandans from saving.
“We exempted Saccos from taxes to encourage Ugandans to save, let us not re-introduce this tax,” Walyomu said.
Joseph Ssewungu (DP, Kalungu County West) also opposed the taxing of Saccos saying that the majority of Ugandans use savings groups to improve their income.
“Why should Saccos be taxed yet we know that many Ugandans borrow from them because of the low interest rates?” said Ssewungu.
Hon. John Bagoole (Independent, Luuka North) urged government to revise the proposal of levying one percent tax on individuals engaged in agriculture.
“This tax should be levied only on commercial agriculture and not individuals who are practicing subsistence farming,” said Bagole.
Isaac Mulindwa Ssozi (NRM, Lugazi Municipality) called for the complete removal of the proposed tax on agriculture.
“Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda and therefore, any tax in agriculture is not called for,” said Ssozi.
Nathan Nandala Mafabi (FDC, Budadiri West) advised government to institute measures that will motivate Ugandans to buy new cars before banning the importation of old ones.
“The moment you stop the old vehicles from being imported, you must reduce tax on the new ones,” Mafabi elaborated.
Akello Judith Franca (FDC, Agago district) questioned whether government carried out a cost proposal analysis before proposing tax amendments.
“How is Uganda going to benefit from the ban on importation of vehicles after foregoing Shs182 billion,” said Akello.
Francis Mukula (Independent, Agule) said that the ban on old vehicles will make it impossible for majority of Ugandans who are low income earners to buy vehicles.
“I presume the cheapest new vehicle will be Shs 60 million. What plan does the government have for Ugandans who cannot afford new vehicles,” asked Mukula.

Bahati explained that the proposed new taxes are aimed at augmenting the tax effort and are expected to raise Shs951.5 billion, while Shs272 billion is expected to be raised from administrative efficiency to achieve the policy target of 0.5 per cent in line with National Development Plan II.

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URA enforcement officers load impounded smuggled motorcycles onto a pick-up truck in Arua recently. Photo Daily Monitor

Members of parliament hailing from West Nile  have expressed their disappointment over Uganda Revenue Authority enforcement officers   methods of collecting tax . The  MPs accuse the officers of subjecting people to ‘inhuman methods’ of collecting tax in the West Nile sub region and the entire country.

This follows last week’s incident were  UPDF officers attached to Uganda Revenue Authority shot two people and injured others  in Yumbe town in an operation that was aimed at impounding motorcycles without license plates.

Speaking to journalists at parliament today, the Woman Member of Parliament for Yumbe District. Zaitun Driwaru, Maracha District Woman MP,  Rose Atima Ayaka, and Aringa County  MP, Ashraf Olega, said that the methods URA use  to collect tax are ‘cruel and rough’ against suspected defaulting tax payers.

The MPs reported that one of the victims of this operation  whose name was not revealed  lost his testicles which is  denying him his reproductive right.

Visibly angry MPs asked URA boss, Doris Akol, to apologize to the people of West Nile whose daughters and sons were mistreated by URA officers during the collection of tax.

They demand that URA pays the medical bills of the persons injured during this operation and be compensated.

Ngora County MP, David Abala, said that the URA law enforcement officer should further undergo training in human rights so as they respect the rights of people while carrying out operations.

WATCH: Two shot in Yumbe as URA clashes with boda-boda riders

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 The committee chairperson Jesica Ababiku moved the motion amidst strong opposition from several MPs who are against passing the budget of the presidency minus facilitating ISO.

This was after Mbayo told the committee that only 19 billion out of ISO’s desired annual budget of 280billion shillings has been approved for 2018/19.nmn

Mbayo asked the committee to  approve  the available  budget for the office of the president because most of the issues they raised are beyond her control like the appointment of ten Residential District Commissioners in the newly created districts or those that will be created next financial year.

Earlier, the parliamentary presidential committee threatened not to pass the budget framework paper for the office of the president.

Committee members say that if the minister Esther Mbayo fails to cut budgets of other departments and increase funding to the Internal Security Organization (ISO) then they will not approve the entire budget of the office of the presidency.

MPS who included makindye east mp Kasozi Ibrahim, kassanda Simeo Nsubuga ,Bukanga county mp Steven Kangwagye pleaded with other committee members  against passing the framework paper without providing for ISO to procure transport means for its officers.

 Mbayo told the committee that ISO needs 22.2 billion shillings to buy 134 motor vehicles and 17.8 billion shillings to procure 1,443 motor cycles but only 482 million shillings was allocated in financial year 2017/18.

The MPs supported the remarks of the minister for security Gen. Henry Tumukunde who said that without security, nothing political, economic and social will be successful.

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Mr Micheal Mawanda being lifted by his supporters at Bushenyi District council hall after being announced the winner of Igara East by-election.

Michael Mawanda, an independent candidate, was on Tuesday evening sworn in as the new MP for Igara East in parliament after winning the by-election held on 14^th December

Court of Appeal in October 2017 nullified the election of Mr Andrew Martial citing voter bribery and uttering of defamatory statements in the 2016 general election.

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Mawanda  was declared winner of the by election with 16,209 votes followed by NRM’s Martial with 12,991 votes.

Mr Katana K Benjamin came third with 1,477 votes followed by Forum for Democratic Change’s Christine Ninsiima Bekunika who got 497 votes.

Mr Bedads Kananura, another independent got 480 votes while Mr David Armstrong, also Independent got 76 in the six-man race.

ALSO READ:Speaker suspends six MPs

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Opposition MPs hold Press Conference upon return of consultation money

He asked the IGG and Auditor General to investigate the source of this money,adding that this money should have gone to public servants who need pay rise like prosecutors and Doctors who are on strike.
He said that as opposition MPs would not take the money to fall in trap since are part of the accountability committees of parliament where are always harassing accounting officers to  stop abuse of public funds .

Busiro east mp Merdad  Sseggona and Soroti district woman MP Angelina Ossege described  the money paid to MPs for consultation as dirty and cursed. Opposition mps asked the public to force their MPS to return the money.

This is the third time parliament has given mps money to consult on bills the first one was 20 million shillings for MPs to consult on the NAADS project in 8th parliament, another one was 5 million shillings to consult on the marriage and Divorce bill in the 9th parliament.
Parliament told MPs to consult on the age limit bill starting from 25th October to 8th November and report to Parliament their findings

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state minister for Transport Aggrey Bagiire

Members of parliament sitting on the physical infrastructure committee have been surprised to learn that the SGS Company that was contracted to inspect vehicles in the country is doing this without any formal supervision from government.

This was revealed during an interface between the parliamentary committee on Physical infrastructure with the Officials from the ministry of works and transport headed by state minister for Transport Aggrey Bagiire , permanent secretary Bageya Waiswa and commissioner transport regulation and safety Katushabe Whinstone among others.

The committee chaired by woman MP for Luwero district Lillian Nakate is probing the illegalities surrounding the SGS contract which was stopped from inspecting vehicles last in June.

Among the many concerns raised by MPs in relation to bleaching of contractual obligations include failure to submit periodical reports of operation, accuracy and maintenance of equipment, the seem to be exorbitant fees used in purchasing of land housing SGS centers, failure to establish other centers in all five regions of the country as in their contract.

The MPs including William Nzoghu, Richard Othieno, James Waluswaka , the committee chairperson Lilian Nakatte among others all questioned how SGS that has been in operation for clause to a year could continue in service without government supervisors whose work would be to assess how these are operating.

Physical Infrastructure Committee of Parliament chaired by Luwero Woman MP, Eng Lillian Nakate

In his response the commissioner for transport regulations and safety in ministry of works Katushabe Winstone admitted to this lope hole noting that they  have been using contract management team that has been occasionally visiting the three operating centers though its not their mandate to supervise the work that goes on here.

The state minister for transport Aggrey Bagiire notes that yes there where uncoordinated issues that were not seen in awarding the inspecting of vehicles contract to SGS but appeals that parliament lets the ministry liase with all the responsible parties to put all issues right for the better services to Ugandans.

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Minister of State for International Affairs Okello Oryem

Members of Parliament on the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs are bitter with State house over blocking them from meeting the President.

While  meeting the Minister of State for International Affairs Okello Oryem the chairperson of the foreign Affairs committee Rose Mutonyi said that they tried to reach the president through state house to voice the foreign affairs sector pressing issues which for long are not attended to but in vain .

She said that as a committee wants to meet the president to voice to him the sector concerns which include the Uganda’s 49 billion shillings outstanding arrears to the international organizations.

Uganda’s annual subscription to the international organizations is 20 billion shillings and government in this financial only provided 9.1 billion shillings.

The committee is also concerned with the continued appointment of non-career diplomats as Ambassadors in the various missions.

Members on the committee noted that out of 35 Ambassadors for the missions in Washington, New York, Dares salaam, Mombasa,Guangzhou  and Abu Dhabi  only six are career diplomats .

The committee chairperson Rose Mary Mutonyi pleads to the minister of foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa to prevail state house and make the committee meet the president.

She has also reported state house to the president over sitting on the committee letters which are seeking appointment for the meeting with committee.

The minister of state for international Affairs Okello Oryem asked the mps to engage the president over the appointment of career diplomat.

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Betty Kamya the Kampala minister

Members of Parliament have criticized the Minister for Kampala, Beti Olive Namisango Kamya for saying that President Museveni is more intelligent than all his ministers combined.

This follows Kamya’s recently interview with the media where she mentioned that for the little time she has worked with the President, he is more intelligent than cabinet combined.

MPs who included; Theodore Ssekikubo for Lwemwiyaga County in Sembabule district and the Fort Portal Municipality MP Alex Ruhunda said that Kamya’s utterances were reckless and require the minister to quit cabinet.

Sekikubo said that ministers like Kamya should resign to save tax payers money spent on expensive bills.

He wondered how Kamya could say the president is more intelligent than his ministers when most of the programmes meant for fighting poverty among the poor people have failed.

Ruhunda demanded that Kamya apologizes to fellow ministers and Ugandans over this unfortunate statement.

The MP for Kumi Municipality, Silas Aorgona, challenged Beti Kamya to prove that all ministers are not intelligent.

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