By; News room
The Inspector General of Police, Kale Kayihura and the Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary, Keith Muhakanizi, are on the spot for evading payment of income and local service taxes for their ranches in Lyantonde district.
The issue came to light on Thursday morning during an interface between the Local Governments Accounts Committee chaired by Reagan Okumu, the Aswa County Member of Parliament and Lyantonde District officials.
During the meeting, it was noted that although Lyantonde District projected to collect Shillings 105.7 million in local revenue in the 2015/2016 financial year, only Shillings 80million.
In the 2014/2015 financial year, Lyantonde expected to collect Shillings 115.6million but only realized Shillings 90 million. The officials noted that the failure to generate the projected local revenue hampers service delivery to residents.
The MPs noted that they recommended last years that people with big ranches in the district such as Kayihura, Muhakanizi and Kabula County MP, James Kakooza should pay the district local service and income taxes.
In this response, Moses Mugabi, the Lyantonde Chief Finance Officer noted that they have done nothing, since the officials had denied them access to their ranches.
Mugabi also noted that some of the powerful individuals in government he didn’t disclose also threatened him when he brought up the matter before the committee last year. He however, noted that some cattle owners paid Shillings 7million in the last financial year.
On average, cattle ranching in the district can contribute Shillings 300,000 each financial year. Okumu promised to summon and embarrass Kayihura, Muhakanizi and Kakooza should they continue evading the payment of local service and income taxes.
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