Rwampara district authorities have expressed their intent to reinstate checkpoints aimed at collecting taxes from matooke and other produce traders. In April, President Museveni directed the removal of tax collection roadblocks and ordered the arrest of those involved in establishing such roadblocks.
He emphasized that these roadblocks hindered the proper implementation and effectiveness of the Common Market for East African countries, which encourages the free movement of goods within the region. However, during a meeting chaired by Rwampara LC V chairperson, Richard Womugasho, and attended by Sub County leaders at the district council hall on Monday, the officials voiced their concerns that the local revenue could decrease if the roadblocks were eliminated.
Womugasho said the district had anticipated generating 400 million Shillings from the roadblocks in the current financial year.
Jotham Mwesigwa, the Rwampara District Speaker, criticized Members of Parliament for operating in isolation and consistently portraying local government leaders as corrupt in the eyes of the electorate. He pointed out that the MPs failed to advise the President on the significance of the road tolls and the local revenue generated from them.
Sub-county leaders expressed dissatisfaction with their area Members of Parliament and the President for not consulting them prior to implementing the presidential directive. They noted that various government activities, such as sub-county council meetings and the oversight of projects funded by local revenue from the road tolls are at risk of failure.
Rwampara District has a budget of 26.3 billion Shillings, with 26% of the funding derived from local revenue. The meeting was attended by, among others, the sub-county chiefs, sub-county councilors, chairpersons of LC3, District Councilors, and technical staff.
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