The Government Won’t Introduce New Taxes in the Next Financial Year, Minister Musasizi.  

By Naboth Isaac Niwagaba.

 apearlnews.com

The State Minister General in the Finance Ministry, Henry Musasizi Ariganyira, has revealed that the government has decided not to introduce any new taxes in the next financial year, as the country recovers from the post-COVID-19 economic crisis.

Rubanda East Mp, was yesterday speaking as the Chief Guest at Rubanda Catholic Parish in Rubanda District during the silver jubilee thanksgiving mass for Rev. Fr. Charles Lwanga, the Rector of St. Adrian’s Seminary in the Kabale Diocese. 
The function was attended by a number of dignitaries, including all Mps from Rubanda District, Kabale Municipality Mp Dr. Nicholas Kamara, LC.5 Chairpersons of Kabale and Rubanda Districts, among others.

Hon. Musasizi explained that the 2022/2023 budget was focused on empowering businesses to recover from the losses and debts accumulated during the two-year period between 2020 and 2021 when the world was besieged by the COVID-19 virus.

“We are mainly looking at how we can bring the economy back to the pre-pandemic levels and improve the incomes of households that are still in poverty.” In order to allow businesses to recover, we are not going to introduce any new taxes, “Musasizi said.

However, the minister also noted that the current taxes would not be reduced.

In regard to the high commodity prices, Musasizi said the government was opting to reduce the number of imported food items while increasing internal production by boosting agriculture, especially through the Parish Development Model.

Musasizi also retaliated against the government’s position that there would be no tax waivers on essential commodities such as sugar, soap, and fuel, arguing that the skyrocketing prices were not caused by taxes. As earlier communicated by the Senior Presidential secretary, Linda Nabusayi Wamboka, “

We have not added any tax on fuel because it was UGX 1,350 and 1500 for diesel and petrol, respectively, before the prices increased from UGX 3500 and 3800 to UGX 5570 and 5500, respectively.”

President Yoweri Museveni is expected to give a televised address about the high commodity prices tonight starting at 8:00 pm. Meanwhile, the

Rev. Fr. Charles Lwanga said he was thanking God for having enabled him to serve as a priest for 25 years in the Kabale Diocese. He has served 23 out of the 25 years as Rector of St. Adrians’ Seminary in the Rubanda District.

Fr. Charles was ordained at Rubanda Catholic Parish on August 11th, 1996, by the Kabale Canadian-born Ugandan Bishop Robert Marie Gay, who was the second overseer of the Kabale Catholic Diocese from 1996 to 2003.

All proceeds from the thanksgiving mass, according to Fr. Charles, will be used to finish Rwamugasha Catholic Church, which is currently under construction in Muko Subcounty, Rubanda District.

The total sum of money collected in cash was UGX 59,750,200, while 500, 000 was in pledges. Minister Musasizi contributed 5 million, and altogether UGX 60, 250, and 200 were gathered both in cash and in pledges.