Taxes on sanitary pads removed

 
The Government has imposed new taxes on wheat grain, beer, wine, spirits, firearms and soft drinks like soda.

Finance minister, Matia Kasaija, announced that the new taxes take effect July 1, 2017.

Presenting the 2017/18 budget on Thursday, Kasaija said the taxes will form part of the sh14.6 trillion the Government intends to raise locally.

He explained that VAT will be re-introduced on imported wheat grain. A tax of 15% withholding tax has been imposed on winnings in gaming and gambling.

Excise duty on cigarettes have been increased from sh45,000 to sh55,000 per 1,000 sticks for locally produced cigarettes and from  sh45,000 to sh75,000 for imported cigarettes.

The minister scrapped VAT on animal feeds and premixes, Saving and Credit Co-operatives, irrigation equipment, locally manufactured furniture, Bujagali power project, solar batteries and lanterns, sanitary pads and access to tourism sites.