Kerosene tax angers female MPs

By Joyce Namutebi        

Women legislators have attacked the commissioner petroleum supplies in the ministry of energy, Rev. Frank Tukwasibwe for saying that the tax on kerosene is being re-introduced so that people can switch to cleaner sources of energy like solar.

The MPs were angered by the argument of adulteration of petrol using kerosene as the reason for imposing a tax on kerosene.

This was at a consensus building dialogue on the 2013/2014 budget held in the Parliamentary Conference hall Thursday.

"By telling people to use solar you are saying that if bread is expensive, then eat cakes," Florence Namayanja (Bukoto east) said after a presentation by the commissioner.

She added that "let women MPs mobilise women to come up and oppose these taxes to show the ministry of finance that we are not satisfied."

Tukwasibwe had said that the re-introduction of a tax on kerosene was not in bad faith. He said it is meant to check on the malpractice of adulteration and also so that people can turn to cleaner sources of energy like solar.

“Adulteration of petroleum products is a major challenge that any industry has to fight. Introduction of sh200 tax is the bottom line. You have to deliver services," he said.

However Jovah Kamateeka (Mitooma), who chaired the dialogue said, "You are transferring the burden of you inefficiency to control adulteration to the poorest of the poor. You are being insensitive."  Present were representatives from civil society organisations.

The women MPs said they were not against paying taxes or government widening the tax base, but the budget should be fair and just. They proposed that taxes should be imposed on luxuries such as cigars, sodas and alcohol.

They attacked women ministers appointed to key ministries such as finance, education, energy and trade for not advancing the women's cause and standing with women when such issues arise. "We must put these ministers to task," Harriet Ntabazi (Bundibugyo) said.

Another MP suggested that if the women ministers cannot come up to identify with the women they'd better quit.