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Government should advance review of mobile money, social media tax – Kadaga

Herman Nnyanzi — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 05:50:29 +0000

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has urged government to move expeditiously and present amendments to the recently passed Excise Duty (Amendment) Act that introduces taxes on mobile money transactions and social media.
“This bill was passed into law so it should not be handled lightly. There is urgent need to harmonize the existing law as it was passed, along with current demands,” Kadaga said.
The Speaker said this during a plenary sitting on Thursday, 12 July 2018, following the Prime Minister’s commitment to introduce an amendment to the Excise Duty (Amendment) Act 2018.
Quoting Rule 118 of the Rules of Procedure, the Speaker said that an urgent bill may be introduced to the House with publication.
“Where the House determines that a bill is urgent, it may be introduced and copies distributed to Members and taken through all its stages in a day,” she added.

Rebecca Kadaga, has urged government to rush review of mobile money and social media tax

Kadaga also stated that, “alternatively, a private member may introduce an amendment bill for this purpose”. She however, noted that private members’ bills face challenges of certificates of financial implication, instead, she advised, the Prime Minister and Cabinet could move the amendments.
“We don’t have capacity to intervene in any amendment for now, apart from waiting,” said the Speaker.
Hon. Paul Mwiru (FDC, Jinja East Municipality) raised concern on the one per cent charge on mobile money deposits that was executed by telecom companies following the implementation of the new law, of which deduction had not been accounted for in the amended law.
“URA later clarified that they were not supposed to make that deduction, but the telecom companies had already collected this money from the public,” Hon. Mwiru said.
Kadaga asked MPs to wait for the bill before they can debate the matter, saying all matters raised in relation to it would be discussed in context of the bill upon being brought to Parliament.
The Excise Duty (Amendment) Act 2018 that took effect on July 1 2018, imposed a one percent tax on mobile money transactions, as well as a daily shs200 payment to access Over The Top (OTT) platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram among others.

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Parliament won’t interfere in mobile money and social media taxes – Kadaga

Agencies — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 17:47:01 +0000

By Imran Bataliwo

The Speaker of parliament Hon. Rebecca Kadaga has ruled that the house will not interfere with mobile money and social media taxes.

Rebecca Kadaga was expected to comment on whether the August house could put on hold and act after government rejected demands from the MPs to suspend the implementation of the excise duty amendment act of 2018 that introduced the controversial taxes on social media platforms and mobile money transactions.

The Speaker of the Parliament Hon. Rebecca Kadaga

She rather told the MPs that once a bill has been passed as a law, it can only be changed through an amendment but not a mere directive. Kadaga further noted that whereas there is public outcry the government should be allowed to make adjustments through the proposed review.

The Speaker also asked government to expeduct the process of amendment or a private members bill will be cleared for discussion.

Meanwhile members of parliament including Medard Lubega Seggona (Busiro East), Paul Mwiru (Jinja municipality) want the government to revert the money that was collected from mobile money deposits.

Government to review social media and Mobile Money taxes

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Kadaga wants NSSF Act reviewed

Herman Nnyanzi — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 21:24:14 +0000

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has called for an amendment to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Act to allow persons access their savings before the age of 50.
Kadaga said it is inhuman for Ugandans to make savings which they may never live to enjoy.
“The current law says you cannot access your savings until you are 50. What is the essence of saving when I can’t use it when I am sick, only to die and is taken by relatives,” said Kadaga.

Kadaga on the commissioning of the NSSF City House in Jinja

The NSSF Act provides that a member of the Fund shall be entitled to age benefit if he or she attains the age of 50 years and has retired from regular employment; or if he or she attains the age of 55 years. It also provides that a member of the Fund may be treated as having retired from regular employment when he or she attains the age of 50 years, or if he or she is not in gainful occupation.
The Speaker revealed that she had received complaints from numerous people who lose employment before the age 50 but cannot access their savings for personal needs.
“Mr. Byarugaba, you know how many letters I have written to you from people who are sick but cannot get their savings for treatment simply because they are not yet 50,” Kadaga said addressing the Executive Director of NSSF.
Kadaga made these remarks at the Commissioning of the NSSF City House in Jinja on Thursday, 28 June 2018.

Hon Paul Mwiru (Jinja East) also re-echoed the plight of Ugandans on access to NSSF savings saying, “many Ugandans who have lost jobs have issues with the scheme. I request for a provision where someone who loses a job is able to access at least 30 percent of their savings as they look for another job”.
Chairman Board of Directors, NSSF, Patrick Kaberenge said the proposed revisions in the NSSF Act will largely benefit clients and requested Kadaga to use her position and expedite the amendment of the NSFF Act and procurement law.
The Speaker said that Parliament is going to focus on legislation in the First sitting of the Third session where that Act when presented for amendment by the Executive would be considered.

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Parliament passes Uganda Heart Institute Bill

Isaac Senabulya — Wed, 11 May 2016 08:59:33 +0000

Parliament has passed the Uganda Heart Institute Bill, 2015 which will make the Institute a self-accounting body with a budget independent of the Health Ministry.
The object of the Bill is to establish the Institute as an autonomous government agency mandated to undertake and coordinate the management of cardiovascular diseases.
Presenting a report on the Bill, the Chairperson of the Health Committee, Hon. Dr. Medard Bitekyerezo said that the Auditor General had noted that there was no Act in place to cater for the institute making its functioning difficult.
The Chairperson added that the Institute shall have a board of directors which shall be the governing body responsible for the performance of the functions of the Institute.
Dr. Bitekyerezo added that the Heart Institute should establish the appropriate departments responsible for the provision of palliative care and rehabilitation services.

Doctors at the Institution perform an Operation

Members of Parliament however, raised the issue of working conditions of the health workers at the Uganda Heart Institute.
Jinja East mp Paul Mwiru said that government needs to address the welfare of the personnel at the Institute.
The Mp for persons with disability Helen Asamo said that making the Institute autonomous will ease the procurement processes at the Institute.

The Opposition Chief Whip, Hon. Cecilia Ogwal called on government to decentralize the services of the Uganda Heart Institute.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye said that the Uganda Heart Institute is one of the most advanced care centres in Africa.

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Ministry of Public Service officials summoned over pension scam

Isaac Senabulya — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 07:37:25 +0000

The parliamentary committee on public Accounts has summoned the Ministry of Public Service officials suspected to have been involved in the pension scan worth over 268 billion shillings. The summons was issued by the Committee chaired by Serere woman Member of Parliament Alice Alaso in a meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Public Service led by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Adah Muwanga.

The summoned officials include the former Permanent Secretary Jimmy Lwamafa, the Ministry’s registrar Jennifer Atoo, former head of the department of Compensation Stephen Kiwanuka Kunsa, former Principal Accountant Obe Christopher, former Commissioner Human Resource JJ Nansera, and Wycliffe Mugume working in the Ministry of Health now, among others.

Members of Parliament detected that Mar. JJ Nansera approved the ghost payment without verification from the audit department. They noted that on several transactions the ministry officials irregularly paid ghost pensioners and left out the genuine ones. MPs noted that the ministry paid 165 billion shillings to ghost pensioners; this case against the accused taken to court was dismissed due to lack of evidence and the suspects are now pleading the ministry to lift the interdiction and resume work.

The PS Muwanga told the committee that she was surprised that there was such a case and added that up to now she has got no proof this money was lost. MPs also learnt that 88.8 billion shillings was irregularly budgeted for as contribution to social security in the financial year 2011/12 and caused parliament to approve this alleged ghost payment.

The committee further observed that the Ministry of Public Service paid 15 billion shillings to HUL AND PARTNERS, which is stated as a law firm, and this was done with approval from the Attorney. In this case MPs noted that this ghost law firm had asked for 12 billion shillings in respect to damages to ghost pensioners due to delays in their payment but was given15 billion shillings yet its location was not known and the Uganda Law Society could not trace its existence.

Members of Parliaments were surprised that this law firm was irregularly paid by the Ministry of Public Service and it did not go to court. The MPs who include Alice Alaso, Gerald Karuhanga, Theodore Sekikubo, Emmanuel Dombo, Paul Mwiru and Jacob Apolot said that the summoned officials should appear before the committee as the committee begins fresh investigations into this pension scam. They were furious that people retire at 60 years, live miserable lives after retirement and die without getting their pension and those still alive get it after more than 20 years. The fresh investigations into the matter will kick off next week with the summoned officials.

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Uganda Human Rights Commission to purchase boat to monitor Human Rights Violations on Islands

Isaac Senabulya — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 09:46:26 +0000

Photo Courtesy of www.guide2uganda.com

The Uganda Human Rights commission is to purchase a boat to monitor human rights violations on islands in the country.

The commission in its bid to acquire the boat has submitted to parliament a budget of 120 million shillings for the project.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs chaired by Baka Mugabi ,the Secretary to the Commission Gordon Mwesigye and the Commission’s Commissioner Amooti kabalirye said that they want a boat to help them move on all islands to investigate cases of human rights abuses and carrying out civic education so as people know their rights.

Members of Parliament who include Jova Kamateka and Paul Mwiru querried the cost of the boat, arguing that it’s too expensive for tax payers.

Meanwhile, the Commission and Members of the Legal Committee agreed to push government to create a victim’s compensation fund so that the commission can have money to pay victims in time whose rights will be found violated.

The legislators noted that many victims and their family members die before get their compensation because the funds allocated for this matter are minimal.

The Uganda Human Rights Commission, usually underfunded by government, has cited always cited funding as a factor that prevents it from fulfilling its mandate under the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. For instance whereas the Commission wants 5 billion shillings for civic education and monitoring human rights violation in the upcoming general elections in 2016, it has only 300 million shillings.

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Paul Mwiru swears in as MP for Jinja East

Gerald Businge — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:49:15 +0000

Parliament has conducted an oath ceremony for the newly-elected Jinja East Member of Parliament Paul Mwiru.

Mwiru, the Forum for Democratic Change candidate, defeated NRM’s Nathan Igime Nabeta in last week’s by-election in Jinja. Mwiru bagged 6,758 votes against Nabeta’s 6,057. The second runner up in the race was DP’s Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro.

Mwiru, a third time contestant in the race, stood on the floor of parliament with only five people as he sworn in.

Outside parliament, hundreds of supporters of FDC chanted anti government and pro FDC songs. The speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga welcomed Mwiru to the 9^th parliament and wished him a nice stay in August house.

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FDC’s Paul Mwiru wins Jinja Municipality East By-election

Gerald Businge — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:41:31 +0000

Opposition supporters in Jinja have this evening started celebrating after the Forum for Democratic Change candidate Paul Mwiru achieved an un assailable lead in the Jinja Municipality East by-elections.

Paul Mwiru

Mwiru beat his closest rival Nathan Igeme Nabeta of the National Resistance Movement and finally wrestled the seat from Nabeta who has represented the areas for two terms.

According to results declared by the Electoral Commission, Mwiru polled 7,758 against Nabeta’s 6,057 votes, beating him with 1,701 votes.

Mwiru was last night declared winner by the returning officer, Ms Flavia Mujulizi, in the presence of Electoral Commission Chairman Dr. Badru Kiggundu and leading opposition leaders.

The other candidates in the race Waiswa Mufumbiro (DP), Osire Osinde (UPC) and Cranmer Dhikusooka (independent) got minimal votes in the voting that was largely described as peaceful.

The by-elections followed the nullification of Nabeta’s victory in the February 2011 elections after Mwiru convinced court about Nabeta’s questionable academic papers and bribing voters.

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