Mityana drivers protest taxes on sand, stones
DRIVERS and quarry men in Malangala sub-county, Mityana district and Namayumba sub-county, Wakiso district have protested the tax levied on vehicles that transport sand and stones from their areas.
By Luke Kagiri
DRIVERS and quarry men in Malangala sub-county, Mityana district and Namayumba sub-county, Wakiso district have protested the tax levied on vehicles that transport sand and stones from their areas.
They have vowed not to pay the taxes unless the Wakiso district authorities repair the River Mayanja bridge, which is at the border of Wakiso and Mityana.
The bridge is found on Kitalya Road that crosses from Buwalula trading centre on the road from Mityana to Namayumba trading centre on Hoima Road.
On one side of the bridge is a stone and sand quarry in Davula village and another on the other side in Kitemu village.
Last week, two Police officers and two officials from Wakiso district were deployed to Davula village to collect revenue from the drivers carrying stones, clay, bricks and sand from the nearby quarries.
Each truck is supposed to pay between sh3,800 and sh11,800, depending on the tonnes carried.
When the quarry men on the side of Mityana district complained that it was illegal for the Wakiso officials to collect revenue from Mityana, the tax collectors shifted to the Wakiso side.
On Thursday, the quarry men camped at the bridge and stopped all vehicles from paying the tax unless the bridge was repaired and the fee reduced.
“This bridge has been in a poor state for many years. When we repaired it by filling in marram so that vehicles could pass, the Wakiso authorities started collecting revenue,†Joseph Ssempereza, the leader of the drivers said, adding that the authorities should first repair the bridge before levying taxes.
Others argued that the tax imposed would bar lorry drivers from collecting sand or stone in their quarries.
“The drivers used to pay some money but the state of the bridge forced them to go to other places,†Ssempereza said.
Other drivers and cyclists said the bridge posed a threat to their lives and vehicles.
“The officials are using the poor state of the area to impound vehicles and collect revenue,†said Alex Mulindwa, a driver.
When New Vision contacted the officials collecting the tax, they declined to comment.
They even ordered the Police officers to stop journalists from taking photographs.
By Thursday evening, they had left the place but returned on Friday morning.
DRIVERS and quarry men in Malangala sub-county, Mityana district and Namayumba sub-county, Wakiso district have protested the tax levied on vehicles that transport sand and stones from their areas.
They have vowed not to pay the taxes unless the Wakiso district authorities repair the River Mayanja bridge, which is at the border of Wakiso and Mityana.
The bridge is found on Kitalya Road that crosses from Buwalula trading centre on the road from Mityana to Namayumba trading centre on Hoima Road.
On one side of the bridge is a stone and sand quarry in Davula village and another on the other side in Kitemu village.
Last week, two Police officers and two officials from Wakiso district were deployed to Davula village to collect revenue from the drivers carrying stones, clay, bricks and sand from the nearby quarries.
Each truck is supposed to pay between sh3,800 and sh11,800, depending on the tonnes carried.
When the quarry men on the side of Mityana district complained that it was illegal for the Wakiso officials to collect revenue from Mityana, the tax collectors shifted to the Wakiso side.
On Thursday, the quarry men camped at the bridge and stopped all vehicles from paying the tax unless the bridge was repaired and the fee reduced.
“This bridge has been in a poor state for many years. When we repaired it by filling in marram so that vehicles could pass, the Wakiso authorities started collecting revenue,†Joseph Ssempereza, the leader of the drivers said, adding that the authorities should first repair the bridge before levying taxes.
Others argued that the tax imposed would bar lorry drivers from collecting sand or stone in their quarries.
“The drivers used to pay some money but the state of the bridge forced them to go to other places,†Ssempereza said.
Other drivers and cyclists said the bridge posed a threat to their lives and vehicles.
“The officials are using the poor state of the area to impound vehicles and collect revenue,†said Alex Mulindwa, a driver.
When New Vision contacted the officials collecting the tax, they declined to comment.
They even ordered the Police officers to stop journalists from taking photographs.
By Thursday evening, they had left the place but returned on Friday morning.