Lwengo, Uganda: A one Tushabe Bruce Nzabanita the President of Volunteer Uganda Extra Limited has vowed to file a law suit against Lwengo Town Council Principal Town Clerk, Mr. Muhammed Mfitumukiza accusing him of his unclear practices in the revenue imposition to small scale traders in the area.
In the letter to the Principal Town Clerk, of Lwengo Town Council dated 11th November, 2022, Mr. Nzabanita requested for a public record in relation to revenue enhancement plan for FY 2019/20 and 2022/22 and a clarification on levying an alleged irregular dues in Lwengo Town Council. This he did through powers enshrined in Access to Information Act 2005 and its subsequent statutory regulation of 2011.
Mr. Nzabanita stressed that their request follows public outcry on service delivery and alleged unnecessary taxation and dues from the Town Council.
He seeks to understand the legality, rational and procedural proprietor of how people who do small businesses such as roasting meat, maize, cassava, gonja, cooking katogo and tea, making porridge, frying pancakes and chapati on the roadside at night are subjected to taxation each and everytime.
He argued that the latter are not in gazette areas rather walk and work on streets and is wondering at how they can be subjected to such.
As an organization, the seek Office of the Principal Town Clerk to halt alleged taxation on persons above pending clarification and satisfaction of their sought therein.
To make available certified copies of the Lwengo Town Council Revenue Enhancement Plan for FY 2019/20 and 2021/22.
He said that without further adieu, Volunteer Uganda Extra Limited needs information requested therein within 21 mandatory days.
Mr. Nzabanita clarified that any kind of revenue in Uganda has a law governing it, say Trading License Act, Operational Permit, Property rent.
“As a town clerk, you need to create a gazette market where these traders would be then impose on them a revenue but you cannot continuous collect from them money without back up of any law”. He stated.
“Businesses like stores for coffee, maize and beans are given operational permit, shops and related businesses are given Trading License, Pharmacies, drug shops are given operation permits at times double tax then small businesses as mentioned above are not governed by any law so it is unlawful to impose on them any fees”. He explained.
He emphasized that they want clarity from Lwengo Town Council officials regarding their Revenue Enhancement Plan for two financial years above and if they are not tallying, they will lodge a suit against them and request them to repay exorbitant sums they have been swindling from small scale traders.
He revealed that initially to levy a revenue on any business, there is need for carrying out assessment plan, serve it to stakeholders then way in whether they can afford it and if not they can appeal for reduction.
It is against this background that Volunteer Uganda Extra Limited through their President Mr. Nzabanita Bruce Tushabe seeks to understand, under which circumstances did Lwengo Town Council initiate such alleged taxation to the businesses in question.