Government Won’t Introduce New Taxes In the Next Financial Year — Minister Musasizi.

By Evans Najuna

RUBANDA – The State Minister for General Duties in the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development Hon. Henry Ariganyira Musasizi, has revealed that Government will not introduce any new taxes in the next financial year, as the country recovers from the post COVID-19 Economic Crisis.

Musasizi who is also the Rubanda East Mp was on Saturday at the Thanksgiving Mass for the silver jubilee celebration of Rev  Fr  Charles Lwanga; the Rector of St Adrian’s Seminary at Rubanda Catholic Parish Rubanda district, where he was the chief guest.

The colourful function was attended by a number of dignitaries including political leaders and MPs from greater Kabale like; Kabale Municipality MP Dr. Nicholas Kamara, LC.5 Chairpersons of Kabale and Rubanda Districts, among others.

Hon. Musasizi explained that the 2022/23 budget will focus on empowering businesses to recover from the losses and debts accumulated from the two year period between 2020 and 2021 when the world was besieged by the COVID-19 virus.

“We are mainly looking at how we can bring back the economy to the pre-pandemic levels and improve the income for households that are still in poverty. In order to allow businesses to recover, we are not going to introduce any new taxes,” Musasizi said.

However, the Minister also noted that the current taxes would not be reduced. In regard to the high commodity prices, Musasizi said Government was opting to reduce the number of imported food items while increasing internal production by boosting agriculture, especially through the Parish Development Model.

Musasizi also retaliated Government’s position that, there would be no tax waivers on the essential commodities such as sugar, soap, fuel, arguing that the skyrocketing prices were not caused by taxes. “We have not added any tax on fuel because it was UGX 1,350 and 1500 for diesel and petrol respectively before the prices increased from UGX 3500 and 3800 to 5570 and 5500 respectively” said the Minister.

More so, President Yoweri Museveni is expected to give a televised address about the high commodity prices tonight starting 8:00 pm as earlier communicated by the Senior Presidential secretary Linda Nabusayi Wamboka.

Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Charles Lwanga said he was thanking God for having enabled him to serve as a priest for 25 years under the Kabale Diocese. He has served 23 out of the 25 years, as Rector of St. Adrians’ Seminary in Rubanda District. Fr. Lwanga was ordained at Rubanda Catholic Parish on 11th August 1996, by the Kabale Canadian-born-Ugandan Bishop Robert Marie Gay who was the second overseer of Kabale Catholic Diocese from 1996 to see 2003.

According to Fr. Lwanga, all the proceedings from the Thanksgiving mass will be used to complete Rwamugasha Catholic Church under construction in Muko Sub-county, Rubanda District. A total sum of UGX 60M was collected.