Pay taxes for proper planning

                                                                                           
Lack of proper planning for the cities and urban town have led to loss of revenue which would have been collected from properties and other structures constructed.

An associate prof. College of political science and public administration, Sabiti Makara said Thursday that owners of some structures in Kampala and other urban municipalities have continued to evade ground and property rent.

"The owners of the structures in the city evade taxes and urban authorities fail to know the owners," he told participants who included town clerks, municipal leaders, academicians, local leader and urban leaders.

Makara said during a public dialogue on good urban governance at the Victoria University that citizens should be forced to pay taxes if they expect better services from authorities.

Participants explained that for urban planners to come up with well-planned cities, there is need to involve all stakeholders irrespective of the status.  

"The vendors, boda-boda riders, the bus, taxi operators should all be involved if we are to plane for the city," Makara said.
 
He also said that poor funding in the urban councils has failed the managers of the cities, saying that communities expect a lot from the authorities yet government's budget for the councils is still small.

Left to right: Prof. Sabiti Makara, Dr. Ian Senkatukka, Dr. Amin Kiggudu, Dean of school of Science and Technology Victory University, Maximus Byamukama and Fr. Pascal Kabura discussing during the public dialogue

Father Pascal Kabura from the Human Rights and Peace Centre MUK, said that urban planners know the problems urban councilors face but they have been frustrated by the politicians who tend to assure power.

"We have the technical and political teams in these councils but politician tend to assume power. In the city for example what is wrong with Jennifer Musisi(ED) and Erias Lukwago Lord Mayor working together. You academicians tell us why do not these two people agree and sit on one tables," Kabura queried.

Jonathan Masiko, a planner from the Ministry of Urban Planning and Development said that government needs to come up with a holistic plan for the city.

" We need to involve doctors, teachers, engineers, economists and other professional for us to have our urban areas organized," he said.

Maximus Byamukama, who represented the Vice Chancellor Victoria University, said that the political, social and economic problems affecting governance start at home adding that parents should educate their children on issues of funding and accountability.
David Kasimbazi from the Centre for Urban Research MUK said that there are not enough experts to plan for the for Uganda adding that there is need for intervention from government.

"We need to encourage people to attend short course in Urban planning," Kasimbazi said.