Authorities in Adjumani Town Council have temporarily suspended property tax collection for one week following widespread complaints from property owners over the administration and accountability of the tax system.
The decision followed a meeting of 74 members of the Adjumani Real Properties Owners Association held at the boardroom of the Adjumani Persons with Disabilities.
Property owners expressed concerns over the engagement of court bailiffs, claiming they were performing roles traditionally handled by the local authority. “We want to know how the court bailiffs were engaged and under what criteria,” said members, insisting that taxation should involve only the taxpayer, the collector, and the receiving authority.
Landlords also criticized the use of the Annual Rentable Value method, saying assessments were irregular and conducted without consultation, with even unoccupied houses being taxed.
Some property owners shared specific grievances:
- Nusura Drapaga said she was assessed Shs 422,000 by court bailiffs, compared to less than Shs 78,000 previously charged by the town council. “I paid twice, but no one has explained why the amount changed,” she said.
- Agasi Simon Asega revealed that his house had twice been locked over a Shs 250,000 tax demand. “Sometimes the bailiffs come at night. This is unfair,” he said.
Other members, including Gasper Draga and Paul Ayira, argued that bailiffs should only intervene after a taxpayer fails to pay within the required period.
Officials Respond
Adjumani Town Clerk Patrick Keleture said his office was awaiting written complaints from the association. “We want to amicably address these grievances and work together with the property owners,” he said.
Finance Secretary Juma Faizul admitted limited access to accountability reports, revealing that of Shs 50 million approved for road maintenance from property tax collections, only Shs 19 million had been spent.
LC III Chairperson Lawrence Mangapi called for continuous stakeholder engagement to ensure tax obligations are met, while Town Council Speaker Osman Yusuf Shaban noted that no council meeting had been held since July last year, leaving leaders unaware of the engagement of court bailiffs.
Adjumani District Entrepreneurs Chairperson Fadul Yusuf Abdul warned that the dispute could undermine revenue mobilisation, while Principal Chief Administrative Officer Richard Edema Draciri emphasized that property owners remain a critical tax base.
The association demanded the publication of all assessed properties, full accountability for funds collected in previous years, and an end to the use of court bailiffs, warning that they may withhold payment unless their concerns are addressed.
