A worker at Namataba Town Council disclosed that the money collected from the transporters is not receipted as the law requires, and does not get to the council’s coffers.
Produce and general merchandise transporters from Naggojje, Ntunda and beyond who ferry their ware via Namataba Town Council has sounded a loud protest against what they termed illegal, unjustified and inexplicable taxes levied against them by Namataba Town Council for ferrying their products to markets.
The transporters who threatened to stop ferrying food items like cassava, sweet potatoes and other goods, expressed the fears that unless the illegal taxation is stopped forthwith, they will stop supplying the items to markets in Namawojjolo, Namataba, Kayanja, Lugazi, Mukono and beyond, in protest.
“Although we are trying to respond to the President’s call of working hard to step up our household income levels through application of interventions like PDM and others, our efforts are being blocked by Namataba town council authorities,” Sseggwanyi Maurisio, a fresh cassava transporter cried out.
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In an interview, Blasio Buule who transports firewood from the Ntunda and Kyabazaala area, said they are not spared by the revenue collectors who claim they were sanctioned by Namataba Town Clerk Fred Katamba. They said they pay between sh3,000 and sh7,000 depending on the size of the vehicle, with nothing given out as acknowledgement of receipt of the payment.
Authorities in Namataba who preferred to stay anonymous for fear of the reactions from the Town Clerk Fred Katamba, pointed out that taxation of forest products runs counter to a presidential directive on combating unchecked tree felling in the area, especially given the prolonged dry spell experienced throughout the country.
A worker at Namataba Town Council disclosed that the money collected from the transporters is not receipted as the law requires, and does not get to the council’s coffers. “This is an arrangement devised by the Town Clerk to benefit himself alone,” the junior officer commented.
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Contacted for comment on phone, the TC Fred Katamba said all his attempts are geared at devising means of increasing the tax base for service delivery in form of street lighting, garbage collection and other services.
Katamba said the situation was forced on him by the inadequate funding from the centre, with a meagre sh4m from the road fund purse, which he said is far below the amount required for putting up adequate service delivery to the community.
He refuted claims that the revenue mobilisation venture is a personal business, and clarified that it is a legal provision backed by support from the central government.
On taxation of fuel wood and charcoal, Katamba said the anomaly was detected and forthwith discontinued, adding however that timber dealers are not taxed by his council because he noted, they claim they were licensed by the National Forestry Authority (NFA).
Katamba said, “If they want us to discontinue resource mobilisation, we shall stop but at the cost of continuation of services we have been conducting with funds so collected”.
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