State House stops tax on boda boda
Jun 02, 2004
STATE House has directed Kampala City Council 9KCC) to stop collecting taxes from boda boda cyclists
By Alfred Wasike
and Godfrey Katamba
STATE House has directed Kampala City Council 9KCC) to stop collecting taxes from boda boda cyclists.
The order comes after the cyclists complained to State House that KCC had imposed a very high tax on their operations and that, the method of collection of the tax was “very brutalâ€.
A June 2, letter signed by Fox Odoi-Oywelowo for the Principal Private Secretary to President Yoweri Museveni directs KCC to stop collecting tax.
The directive is backed by a May 28, opinion from the Solicitor General, Lucien Tibaruha ruling, “Clearly, the imposition of tax on motorcyclists by any local government would be illegal.â€
Odoi’s letter reads, “There are further complaints to the effect that there were no consultations and sensitisation before the imposition of this tax. We sought the opinion of the Solicitor General and below is a summary of the advice.
“That any tax, levy, fees etc must be imposed by either a statute or under the authority of a statute.
That taxes, fees, fines, licences etc that local governments are authorised to collect are contained in the 5th schedule of the Local Government Act. None of the above covers levying of any tax on boda boda motor cyclists,†the State House noted.
The statement said the local government minister had not authorised the imposition of any tax or collection of any revenue from the boda boda cyclists.
and Godfrey Katamba
STATE House has directed Kampala City Council 9KCC) to stop collecting taxes from boda boda cyclists.
The order comes after the cyclists complained to State House that KCC had imposed a very high tax on their operations and that, the method of collection of the tax was “very brutalâ€.
A June 2, letter signed by Fox Odoi-Oywelowo for the Principal Private Secretary to President Yoweri Museveni directs KCC to stop collecting tax.
The directive is backed by a May 28, opinion from the Solicitor General, Lucien Tibaruha ruling, “Clearly, the imposition of tax on motorcyclists by any local government would be illegal.â€
Odoi’s letter reads, “There are further complaints to the effect that there were no consultations and sensitisation before the imposition of this tax. We sought the opinion of the Solicitor General and below is a summary of the advice.
“That any tax, levy, fees etc must be imposed by either a statute or under the authority of a statute.
That taxes, fees, fines, licences etc that local governments are authorised to collect are contained in the 5th schedule of the Local Government Act. None of the above covers levying of any tax on boda boda motor cyclists,†the State House noted.
The statement said the local government minister had not authorised the imposition of any tax or collection of any revenue from the boda boda cyclists.