City Council locks up Uganda Museum
Dec 16, 2009
KAMPALA City Council (KCC) authorities yesterday locked the Uganda Museum and Farmers House over failure to pay property rates.
By Moses Mulondo
KAMPALA City Council (KCC) authorities yesterday locked the Uganda Museum and Farmers House over failure to pay property rates.
When The New Vision visited the museum at Kamwokya yesterday morning, the main gate was chained and all the offices were locked.
A national treasure, the Uganda Museum, founded in 1908, has exhibits of traditional culture, archeology, history, science and nature.
For over a century, the museum has been serving as an education and research centre on every aspect of Uganda’s past and culture.
KCC spokesperson Simon Muhumuza said he had not received information about the closing of the museum.
He, however, admitted that the city authorities had closed Farmers House, located on Parliament Avenue, which houses the offices of the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry as well as the Judicial Service Commission, the Education Service Commission and the Public Service Commission.
Muhumuza said the management of Farmers House had failed to pay sh200m in property rate, the tax the city authorities charge on property.
On the Uganda Museum, Muhumuza said: “I am not sure yet but if our officials have closed it, then the reason must be failure to pay property rate.â€
The museum usually receives a high number of visitors, including foreign tourists, during the Christmas festive season. At the time New Vision visited, six white tourists were stranded at the gate.
“The KCC officials who came to close the place argued that the management had taken long without paying property rate,†an employee said. A source said the museum owes KCC about sh9m.
City town clerk Ruth Kijjambu explained that all Government ministries and departments with property in the city are expected to pay the tax. She, however, observed that tax collection was outsourced to a private company.
The Uganda Museum was first built at Fort Lugard in Old Kampala. It was transferred to Makerere University in 1942 before it was moved to its current location on Kiira Road in 1954.
KAMPALA City Council (KCC) authorities yesterday locked the Uganda Museum and Farmers House over failure to pay property rates.
When The New Vision visited the museum at Kamwokya yesterday morning, the main gate was chained and all the offices were locked.
A national treasure, the Uganda Museum, founded in 1908, has exhibits of traditional culture, archeology, history, science and nature.
For over a century, the museum has been serving as an education and research centre on every aspect of Uganda’s past and culture.
KCC spokesperson Simon Muhumuza said he had not received information about the closing of the museum.
He, however, admitted that the city authorities had closed Farmers House, located on Parliament Avenue, which houses the offices of the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry as well as the Judicial Service Commission, the Education Service Commission and the Public Service Commission.
Muhumuza said the management of Farmers House had failed to pay sh200m in property rate, the tax the city authorities charge on property.
On the Uganda Museum, Muhumuza said: “I am not sure yet but if our officials have closed it, then the reason must be failure to pay property rate.â€
The museum usually receives a high number of visitors, including foreign tourists, during the Christmas festive season. At the time New Vision visited, six white tourists were stranded at the gate.
“The KCC officials who came to close the place argued that the management had taken long without paying property rate,†an employee said. A source said the museum owes KCC about sh9m.
City town clerk Ruth Kijjambu explained that all Government ministries and departments with property in the city are expected to pay the tax. She, however, observed that tax collection was outsourced to a private company.
The Uganda Museum was first built at Fort Lugard in Old Kampala. It was transferred to Makerere University in 1942 before it was moved to its current location on Kiira Road in 1954.