Tax collecting paralyses business in Kabale
Jun 24, 2010
Business in Kabale town was paralysed after municipality officials mounted an operation on defaulters of property tax and ground rent recently.
By Goodluck Musinguzi
Business in Kabale town was paralysed after municipality officials mounted an operation on defaulters of property tax and ground rent recently.
Johnson Munono, the town clerk, said he was under pressure to raise funds for service delivery but many business owners had not paid taxes.
Munono said he sent warning messages to business owners to pay ground rent and property tax but most did not respond.
He added that he had deployed his staff to move to all buildings and verify documents including past year ones.
So far, 17 shops have been closed in Kigongi ward.
One victim, Daniella Akampa, was bitter with her landlord, saying she pays rent but the owners had failed to pay ground rent and property tax for three years.
Akampa said she would sue her landlord for the days her shop will be closed because she had a trading license and had not defaulted on anything.
Last week, Hope Mwesigye, the agriculture minister and woman MP for Kabale district, attacked the mayor and his officials for presiding over the dirtiest town in Uganda.
Mwesigye said garbage and dust welcomed people to Kabale town. She urged the leaders to improve the situation.
Pius Ruhemurana, the mayor, said the municipality had one garbage skipper and divisions had failed to do their jobs.
Ruhemurana added that the divisions were independent corporate bodies which he could not force to clean their areas, unless he sued them.
Business in Kabale town was paralysed after municipality officials mounted an operation on defaulters of property tax and ground rent recently.
Johnson Munono, the town clerk, said he was under pressure to raise funds for service delivery but many business owners had not paid taxes.
Munono said he sent warning messages to business owners to pay ground rent and property tax but most did not respond.
He added that he had deployed his staff to move to all buildings and verify documents including past year ones.
So far, 17 shops have been closed in Kigongi ward.
One victim, Daniella Akampa, was bitter with her landlord, saying she pays rent but the owners had failed to pay ground rent and property tax for three years.
Akampa said she would sue her landlord for the days her shop will be closed because she had a trading license and had not defaulted on anything.
Last week, Hope Mwesigye, the agriculture minister and woman MP for Kabale district, attacked the mayor and his officials for presiding over the dirtiest town in Uganda.
Mwesigye said garbage and dust welcomed people to Kabale town. She urged the leaders to improve the situation.
Pius Ruhemurana, the mayor, said the municipality had one garbage skipper and divisions had failed to do their jobs.
Ruhemurana added that the divisions were independent corporate bodies which he could not force to clean their areas, unless he sued them.