MPs oppose export of ARVs
Apr 10, 2009
MPS this week contested plans by the Luzira based factory, Quality Chemicals, to export some of the anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) they produce. The committee on HIV/AIDS on Monday asked Quality Chemicals to first satisfy Ugandan needs.
MPS this week contested plans by the Luzira based factory, Quality Chemicals, to export some of the anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) they produce. The committee on HIV/AIDS on Monday asked Quality Chemicals to first satisfy Ugandan needs.
“We have invested over sh6b into this company and will not let tax payers’ money be used to produce for others,†committee chairperson Beatrice Rwakimari said.
A Ministry of Health survey estimated that about 135,300 adults and children were newly infected with HIV in 2007. It is estimated that at the end of 2007, a total of 810,000 Ugandans were living with HIV.
“It is estimated that about 350,000 adults and children need treatment. The country has only availed therapy to 156,000,†she told journalists on Monday.
NRM MPs split over VIP benefits
NRM MPs on Tuesday expressed reservation over some of the retirement benefits proposed for the country’s top leaders. The MPs reportedly said the benefits for the President, Vice-President and the Prime Minister would cripple the country's already stretched resources.
Sources that attended the meeting at Parliament said several MPs disagreed with the proposal to provide a fully-furnished house to the leaders. Some members, according to sources, argued that former presidents like Bill Clinton and George Bush of the US retired to their own homes.
The members also reportedly opposed the proposal to have health benefits for relatives of the President, Vice-President and other beneficiaries.
They were reacting to a presentation by the second deputy premier, Henry Kajura. He was seeking the support of the members on the Bill, which was tabled in Parliament recently. Government Chief Whip Daudi Migereko said the Bill was overwhelmingly supported by the caucus.
Economy resists financial crisis – Bbumba
Uganda's economy has remained positive despite the current global crisis, finance minister, Syda Bbumba has said. Bbumba on Wednesday told Parliament that the country’s banking sector was stable, adding that the demand for Ugandan goods remained strong and the country was producing commodities whose output was not compromised.
She said the falling commodity prices on the world market provided cheaper inputs for the manufacturing sector. Bbumba also said tax collections for February were above the target by sh19.4b. Some MPs, however, said she was not presenting the true picture of the economy.
sex tourism Law passed
Cannibalism and sex tourism have been criminalised under the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Bill, 2009 passed by Parliament last week. Cannibalism means eating another or part of a human being while sex tourism means offering sexual services in the tourism packages. Winnie Masiko said according to the Bill, any culprit of child traffickiing was liable to life imprisonment.
Kony victims paid twice
The justice ministry paid sh5.7b to Kony victims without verification. Auditor General John Muwanga, in a report to Parliament, said the cabinnet had earlier on recommended a sh1.3b compesation. According to the report, institutions like the Police, the government valuer and chief mechanical engineer, were not involved in confirming the valuations.
Appearing before the committee to answer the queries, the ministry’s acting Solicitor General Billy Kainamura attributed the anomaly to poor coordination between the ministries of finance and justice.
URA seeks to waive sh150b
tax arrears
UGANDA Revenue Authority (URA) wants Parliament to approve a blanket tax waiver of over sh150b to taxpayers in the country covering all the outstanding debts accrued before 2002.
The tax body's head, Allen Kagina, while answering queries from the Auditor General's report, said most of the taxes could not be recovered either because the taxpayers could not be found or the supporting documents were missing.
Without disclosing them, she said the tax defaulters range from private registered companies to government institutions.
Ssebuliba Mutumba proposed that URA freezes the defaulters' accounts like they do with other organisations. However, Kagina said it was not easy freezing accounts due to the resultant effects.
“We have invested over sh6b into this company and will not let tax payers’ money be used to produce for others,†committee chairperson Beatrice Rwakimari said.
A Ministry of Health survey estimated that about 135,300 adults and children were newly infected with HIV in 2007. It is estimated that at the end of 2007, a total of 810,000 Ugandans were living with HIV.
“It is estimated that about 350,000 adults and children need treatment. The country has only availed therapy to 156,000,†she told journalists on Monday.
NRM MPs split over VIP benefits
NRM MPs on Tuesday expressed reservation over some of the retirement benefits proposed for the country’s top leaders. The MPs reportedly said the benefits for the President, Vice-President and the Prime Minister would cripple the country's already stretched resources.
Sources that attended the meeting at Parliament said several MPs disagreed with the proposal to provide a fully-furnished house to the leaders. Some members, according to sources, argued that former presidents like Bill Clinton and George Bush of the US retired to their own homes.
The members also reportedly opposed the proposal to have health benefits for relatives of the President, Vice-President and other beneficiaries.
They were reacting to a presentation by the second deputy premier, Henry Kajura. He was seeking the support of the members on the Bill, which was tabled in Parliament recently. Government Chief Whip Daudi Migereko said the Bill was overwhelmingly supported by the caucus.
Economy resists financial crisis – Bbumba
Uganda's economy has remained positive despite the current global crisis, finance minister, Syda Bbumba has said. Bbumba on Wednesday told Parliament that the country’s banking sector was stable, adding that the demand for Ugandan goods remained strong and the country was producing commodities whose output was not compromised.
She said the falling commodity prices on the world market provided cheaper inputs for the manufacturing sector. Bbumba also said tax collections for February were above the target by sh19.4b. Some MPs, however, said she was not presenting the true picture of the economy.
sex tourism Law passed
Cannibalism and sex tourism have been criminalised under the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Bill, 2009 passed by Parliament last week. Cannibalism means eating another or part of a human being while sex tourism means offering sexual services in the tourism packages. Winnie Masiko said according to the Bill, any culprit of child traffickiing was liable to life imprisonment.
Kony victims paid twice
The justice ministry paid sh5.7b to Kony victims without verification. Auditor General John Muwanga, in a report to Parliament, said the cabinnet had earlier on recommended a sh1.3b compesation. According to the report, institutions like the Police, the government valuer and chief mechanical engineer, were not involved in confirming the valuations.
Appearing before the committee to answer the queries, the ministry’s acting Solicitor General Billy Kainamura attributed the anomaly to poor coordination between the ministries of finance and justice.
URA seeks to waive sh150b
tax arrears
UGANDA Revenue Authority (URA) wants Parliament to approve a blanket tax waiver of over sh150b to taxpayers in the country covering all the outstanding debts accrued before 2002.
The tax body's head, Allen Kagina, while answering queries from the Auditor General's report, said most of the taxes could not be recovered either because the taxpayers could not be found or the supporting documents were missing.
Without disclosing them, she said the tax defaulters range from private registered companies to government institutions.
Ssebuliba Mutumba proposed that URA freezes the defaulters' accounts like they do with other organisations. However, Kagina said it was not easy freezing accounts due to the resultant effects.