BY JOACKIM KULE
Mr. Saulo Maate, the Kasese District Chairperson for the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) has expressed fear that the people’s standards of living might worsen following the newly passed tax bills aimed at raising shillings 1.8 trillion to finance part of the country’s 2026/2027 National Budget.
Yesterday, the Parliament of Uganda passed a series of tax bills with a significant focus on fuel levies and other consumer goods.
The bills highlighted that the government expects to raise approximately shillings 450 billion from the fuel levy while parliament also approved a shillings 200 levy on cooking oil, sugar, 750 tax on cement, and a registration of shillings 500,000 on boda-boda motorists among others.
Addressing the press this evening at the PFF Kasese branch offices in Kasese town, Mr. Maate expressed his disappointment with the parliamentarians who participated in the process but didn’t consider the people that they represent.
Maate also castigated the manner in which parliament passes bills that later become laws after being assented to by the President but remain silent even when they are of public interest.
Maate was not only concerned about the increment of taxes but also the high salaries and allowances of the Members of Parliament and some civil servants in many sectors.
He also cited the 315 million shillings that each of the legislators would pocket after swearing in to facilitate their suits, vehicles and housing in Kampala.
ENDS