Civil society organizations, led by Action Aid have collected over 2 million signatures to frustrate the move by members of Parliament to dodge income tax payment.
On 20th April 2016, a 5 million citizens’ campaign was launched to petition the president asking him to reject the new insertion by MPs under Sec.21. “the employment income of person employed as member of parliament, except salary.” This amendment creates a tax exemption on MPs’ emoluments and allowances, which are in millions, yet the same tax regime imposes taxation on emoluments and benefits of low earners.
Speaking to concerned citizens and the press who showed up at their Kansanga offices for a presser this morning, Harriet Gimbo Robinah, the country Director programs Action Aid said;
“We have mobilized citizens to append their signatures to this petition and in a period of one week, 2,821,909 citizens have signed the petition. These are Ugandan citizens from 88 districts of Uganda asking the president to listen to their voices.”
Citizens, civil society organizations and a number of other government officials have come out to strongly criticize the greedy move by Mps.
The Bill was passed by MPs who have since threatened not to pass the 2016/2017 financial year budget, unless the president signs it into law.
But, the president’s press secretary Linda Nabusayi says the Head of state will not be blackmailed into signing some bills just to favor members of parliament.
She wrote; “The threat by MPs to block the #NationalBugdet 2016/17 if the #Presidentdoes not sign into law the recent Income Tax (Amendments) Bill 2016 passed by #Parliament is tantamount to #TREASON.
The #MPs are being selfish and talking irresponsibly. Are they passing the Budget for the President’s personal use or for the country to manage its affairs, including serving the people who elected them?
President #Museveni did not endorse this plan and he is going to scrutinise this bill. If it is found to be a bad #law, he will definitely not sign it.”
Today, only a handful of MPs have come out to discredit the Bill.
