MPs want open voting on Mobile Money Tax Amendment
Some Members of Parliament are concerned that colleagues summoned to State House, Entebbe last night to meet with President Yoweri Museveni over the mobile money tax maybe compromised.
The dominant National Resistance Movement (NRM) party on Monday, October 01, 2018 summoned a caucus to discuss the now controversial Excise duty amendment tax number two 2018.
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The concerned members of parliament, speaking to the press, said NRM's decision to speak with one voice on supporting the 0.5% tax on mobile money withdrawals could betray the hopes of Ugandans the tax would be abolished.
Gideon Onyango, MP (Independent), Samia Bugwe County North urges the NRM legislators to, "Listen to the voice of the people. We want this tax to be scrapped off to zero."
Butembe County MP (NRM) Nelson Lufafa concurs, "The government should withdraw this tax because many businesses are struggling."
Last Thursday, open voting on the mobile money tax amendment failed to happen after many NRM legislators, who hold a majority in parliament, did not turn up.
NRM party chairman President Yoweri Museveni then summoned his members to State House, Entebbe on Monday evening.
The concerned MPs want Deputy Speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah ensure an open voting on Tuesday in order to expose the anti–people legislators.
However, some NRM MPs who attended the caucus vowed to oppose the tax on the floor of parliament again.
However, Henry Musasizi the Finance Committee Chairperson defended caucus meeting as intended to reconcile all NRM legislators to one position that supports the position of the committee report.
Bubulo West MP (NRM) Rose Mutonyi supports this position because the tax will be, "One way," and only taxed on withdrawals.
With only hours left to the Tuesday parliamentary sitting, Ugandans will be keenly watching the outcome of the vote on the Excise duty amendment tax number two 2018.
Government hopes to collect at least 115 billion shillings from mobile money transactions if the bill is passed at 0.5%.
