By Abdulkarim Ssengendo

President Yoweri Museveni has cautioned the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to stop over taxing SACCOs.

The President’s warning followed a complaint raised by the parish priest of Rubindi Parish Catholic Church, the Rev. Fr. Felix Bikwatsizehi, who said the parish SACCO pays cooperation tax of 30%, which is affecting the growth of the institution.

“I have heard about the issue of taxation of SACCOs. This taxation should not be there. It is not a good practice and I will work on it,” Museveni said.

He said taxation is for commodities such as alcohol but not SACCOs, which the Government introduced to help Ugandans get out of poverty.

Museveni was presiding over a fundraising drive to raise sh250m for the completion of Rubindi Parish Catholic Church in Mbarara district.

He pledged sh75m towards the church’s development projects, sh50m towards the completion of the church and sh10m to the parish SACCO.

The President called on Ugandans to focus on ibuilding industries, adding that the Government has earmarked about sh1 trillion to support industrial development.

He also promised to work with the education ministry to build more Universal Secondary Schools (USE) in the sub-counties of Mbarara district.

This was after Kashari MP Wilberforce Yaguma informed the president that the sub-counties of Kakiika, Bucuro and Bubaare in Kashari county, Mbarara district did not have any USE school.

Museveni, who was accompanied by his wife, Janet Museveni, also promised to work on improving Bwizibwera Health Center IV. The health centre was built in the colonial era and needs rehabilitation and expansion.

The President also re-echoed his warning to the public to stay alert and desist from shaking hands to avoid contracting the Marburg disease. He said the disease had killed people in Kabale and Ibanda districts and new cases were reported in Mbarara Hospital.