Exempt Church from taxes - Mityana Bishop

Mityana Woman Member of Parliament Judith Nabakooba handing over offertory during mass at Kiyinda. Photo by Luke Kagiri

The Bishop of Kiyinda Mityana Diocese, Rt Rev Dr Joseph Antony Zziwa, has appealed to the Government to exempt the Church from paying taxes on properties that it procures to serve the community.

Bishop Zziwa said that although the Church is involved in a lot of activities that are positively touching the lives of people, there are heavy taxes levied on the items, thus affecting their operations.

The Bishop was on Sunday speaking at the Diocesan Day celebrations held at the diocesan cathedral in Kiyinda.

"When the President visited, I mentioned this issue; the problem of the taxes. We would even be doing a lot more than what we are, but the taxes are a great challenge to us. We once again request for tax exemption so that we can easily serve," he said.

The Catholic Church has for long been involved in running a number of projects, some income-generating, whose profits help to run the church.

In Kiyinda Mityana for example, the Bishop announced that they have this year completed multi-million commercial buildings in Kampala and more projects are to start soon in Mityana.

He, however, asked the Government to extend more support to the diocese and all the communities there.

Kiyinda Mityana diocese covers the central districts of Mityana, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Mubende and Gomba.

Dr Zziwa said a lot of services the diocese is offering would have been offered by the Government so they need a lot of support.

The Bishop also warned about the recently announced deadly disease outbraeak; the Rift Valley Fever and expressed concern, cautioning the congregation to be careful.

"The disease has been cited in Mityana and Kiboga districts and so we must be careful. We should follow the advice and instructions by the medics," he warned.

Attending the event were most of the local leaders like some Members of Parliament from Mityana, Mubende and Kiboga, and hundreds of Christians