By James Oloch

THE LC5 chairperson of Lira district, Franco Ojur, has told sub-county chiefs not to bother the internally displaced persons (IDPs) with graduated tax.

“There is going to be no tax collection in Lira this year. My people are in the camps. There is no way they can pay graduated tax. They are suffering,” he said.

Ojur said this during a radio talk show on Radio Lira on Saturday.

“Graduated tax is possible when there is peace and security in place. Right now people are not producing anything and we need to feed them. Where would they get money to pay the tax? Nobody should disturb them.”

He said the district would depend on the available little resources, Government funds, donor community and other external sources.

Ojur said he would send an official communication to the chiefs soon.

He said after guaranteeing security, the Government would resettle the IDPs back to their homes.

His vice-chairperson Rebecca Otengo and some of his executive members accompanied him.

The Lord’s Resistance Army rebels have ravaged an estimated 20 sub-counties.

Only Kyoga county and Lira municipality are reportedly relatively peaceful.

However, the municipality has about 400,000 IDPs from Dokolo, Erute North and Erute South, Moroto and Otuke sub-counties.

It was not clear, however, whether the Government blessing to that effect.