MPs shun debate on mobile money tax

Many MPs yesterday shunned the plenary which was intended to pass the long awaited Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2018 that seeks to reduce the mobile money tax from 1% to 0.5%.

The lack of quorum forced the Deputy Speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah to adjourn the sitting to Tuesday next week asking all legislators to ensure their attendance.

Before the adjournment, David Bahati, the state minister for Finance had laboured to convince the MPs to support the bill.

In his committee report, the Finance committee chairperson Henry Musasizi indicated to the House four recommendations on how best the mobile money business should be handled in the country.

It included reducing the tax to 0.5% as President Museveni had suggested.

The Minority report that was signed by three committee members led by Katikamu North MP Luttamaguzi Ssemakula asked the House to scrap all the taxes imposed on mobile money transactions.

However, the debate was cut short when the minister for Lands, Betty Amongi, brought it to the attention of the deputy speaker that there was no quorum.

Oulanyah was then compelled to adjourn the House for 15 minutes.

When business resumed, the quorum was not realised forcing the deputy speaker to adjourn the proceedings.