Kamuli councillors oppose tax deductions
Apr 24, 2010
KAMULI district councillors have rejected a move to deduct 30% of their sitting allowances as tax. They termed it as “oppressive and hostile†and urged the government to abandon it.
By Tom Gwebayanga
KAMULI district councillors have rejected a move to deduct 30% of their sitting allowances as tax. They termed it as “oppressive and hostile†and urged the government to abandon it.
This was at a workshop at the youth centre organised by the Jinja regional tax officer, Patrick Opolot, on Monday.
The objective was to inform local councillors about taxation and the policy of deducting 30% of sitting allowances during plenary and committee sessions.
“We are not salary earners but we do a big job mobilising people. Is that the way the Government thanks us?†Martin Mugabi Muzaale (Bugulumbya sub-county) asked.
Moses Kabaale (Namasagali) asked why the government had turned its guns from the business community to “poor†councillors. “We get peanuts and we have (only) six sittings per year. that percentage is too high,†he lamented, to the agreement of other councillors.
Charles Mpalabule (Kisozi) noted: “We strive to make policies that necessitate good governance. We thought  you had come to inform us of an increment in emoluments!†Mpalabule said.
AÂ councillor gets sh250,000 per session and sh120,000 for committee sittings. A 30% deduction means losing sh75,000 and sh36,000, according to the district speaker, Samuel Bamwole.
Thomas Kategere ( Kitayunjwa) said: “You should have consulted us before enforcing the tax. Some of us are members of dormant committees that take more than three months to convene.â€
But Opolot said the policy was already in force. “We’re not consulting but informing you,†Opolot said adding that the chief administrative officers and clerks to councils had been served with circulars to that effect.
KAMULI district councillors have rejected a move to deduct 30% of their sitting allowances as tax. They termed it as “oppressive and hostile†and urged the government to abandon it.
This was at a workshop at the youth centre organised by the Jinja regional tax officer, Patrick Opolot, on Monday.
The objective was to inform local councillors about taxation and the policy of deducting 30% of sitting allowances during plenary and committee sessions.
“We are not salary earners but we do a big job mobilising people. Is that the way the Government thanks us?†Martin Mugabi Muzaale (Bugulumbya sub-county) asked.
Moses Kabaale (Namasagali) asked why the government had turned its guns from the business community to “poor†councillors. “We get peanuts and we have (only) six sittings per year. that percentage is too high,†he lamented, to the agreement of other councillors.
Charles Mpalabule (Kisozi) noted: “We strive to make policies that necessitate good governance. We thought  you had come to inform us of an increment in emoluments!†Mpalabule said.
AÂ councillor gets sh250,000 per session and sh120,000 for committee sittings. A 30% deduction means losing sh75,000 and sh36,000, according to the district speaker, Samuel Bamwole.
Thomas Kategere ( Kitayunjwa) said: “You should have consulted us before enforcing the tax. Some of us are members of dormant committees that take more than three months to convene.â€
But Opolot said the policy was already in force. “We’re not consulting but informing you,†Opolot said adding that the chief administrative officers and clerks to councils had been served with circulars to that effect.