Tyre dealers protest high taxes
Sep 08, 2009
TYRE dealers have protested the high import tax, claiming that it was compromising road safety. Robinah Batte, the Tropical Tyres operations director, said taxes on imported tyres should be reduced if the Government wants to reduce road accidents.
By Samuel Balagadde
TYRE dealers have protested the high import tax, claiming that it was compromising road safety. Robinah Batte, the Tropical Tyres operations director, said taxes on imported tyres should be reduced if the Government wants to reduce road accidents.
“Taxes on tyres are about 35% of their import value, hence making them expensive for ordinary consumers.
“This has led many to continue using old tyres or opting to retreading, which compromises road safety,†Batte said.
She was speaking at the launch of a one year road safety campaign, dubbed “Blood off the Roadâ€, by Prime Radio at Hotel Africana recently.
Simon Ejua, the transport state minister, said road accidents cost sh560b, representing about 2.7% of the country’s gross domestic product, in terms of deaths, injuries, vehicles and other property costs.
He said defective vehicles with warn-out tyres, brakes and steering wheels contributed to about 10% of the causes of road accidents in the country.
The campaign will involve several activities, including the erection of billboards alerting road users about some black spots.
The activities are to be implemented with the assistance from the transport ministry and the Uganda National Roads Authority.
James Kamya, the Prime Radio marketing manager, urged other companies to come on board to support “this noble cause by giving back to communities and contributing towards this campaign.â€
Total, Toyota, MPK Graphics, Mogus and Budget Safaris are also supporting the campaign.
TYRE dealers have protested the high import tax, claiming that it was compromising road safety. Robinah Batte, the Tropical Tyres operations director, said taxes on imported tyres should be reduced if the Government wants to reduce road accidents.
“Taxes on tyres are about 35% of their import value, hence making them expensive for ordinary consumers.
“This has led many to continue using old tyres or opting to retreading, which compromises road safety,†Batte said.
She was speaking at the launch of a one year road safety campaign, dubbed “Blood off the Roadâ€, by Prime Radio at Hotel Africana recently.
Simon Ejua, the transport state minister, said road accidents cost sh560b, representing about 2.7% of the country’s gross domestic product, in terms of deaths, injuries, vehicles and other property costs.
He said defective vehicles with warn-out tyres, brakes and steering wheels contributed to about 10% of the causes of road accidents in the country.
The campaign will involve several activities, including the erection of billboards alerting road users about some black spots.
The activities are to be implemented with the assistance from the transport ministry and the Uganda National Roads Authority.
James Kamya, the Prime Radio marketing manager, urged other companies to come on board to support “this noble cause by giving back to communities and contributing towards this campaign.â€
Total, Toyota, MPK Graphics, Mogus and Budget Safaris are also supporting the campaign.