Authorities note that though the municipality has been hosting the day for years with a lot of indirect benefits due to the influx of people in the area for over almost a month, they have been lacking a proper plan strategized to ensure that the municipality remit some revue to its coffers.
The catholic Uganda Martyrs shrines located in Kira Municipality attract multitude of people. the local authorities are strategizing on how best they can have a significant direct Benefit from Martyrs’ Day
Authorities
in Kira Municipality are laying strategizes that will see them benefit
more from this year's Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations. The celebrations take place on June 3rd every year although celebrations normally start several days before the climax.
With
less than five months towards this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day
celebrations, authorities at Kira Municipality are laying strategies to
ensure that the local government benefits from the annual fete which
attracts multitudes from all walks of life.
Authorities note
that though the municipality has been hosting the event for years with a
lot of indirect benefits due to the influx of people in the area for
over almost a month, they have been lacking a proper plan strategized to
ensure that the municipality remit some revue to its coffers.
Frank
Ssemukuye, the Kira Municipal Speaker stresses that instead of benefit
from the fete, the municipality has however been spending a lot of money
during the preparation and in the aftermath more so by during heavy
road maintenance, carrying and managing the waste disposed off.
Luganda byte
//Cue in: “Naye okujjako…
Cue out…mu municipality.”//
Now,
the Kira Municipal Town Clerk Benon Yiga notes that they have
identified loopholes where they have been losing a lot of revenue and
also cited possible avenues where they can get more.
Yiga
notes that they are looking forward to setting up a tourism and travel
center which will be getting some funds from the tourists who will be
accessing the martyrs’ shrines and other related places. He adds that
the center will also venture into hotel booking among other services.
//Cue in: “we don’t regret…
Cue out…from the tourists.”//
Godfrey
Muwanga, the Municipal Finance Officer, notes they will be tendering a
private company to manage waste on behalf of the council at the four
sites which attract pilgrims; Anglican, Catholics shrine, the Muslims
martyr’s mosques, and Mamre International Prayer Centre.
“This
will reduce the pressure put on the municipal budget. The tendered
company will be collecting some reasonable dues from traders who will be
operating on the streets for about two weeks so that the company also
manages the waste. The company will also be expected to remit shillings
2.5 million or more (depending on the biddings) to the municipality,”
says Muwanga.
Muwanga adds that they have also notified that they
have been losing out on hotel tax as many hotel ad lodge operators have
been under-declaring their guests. He says although they have been
registering some increase in hotel tax during the month of April-June
from the average shillings 12 million to shillings 25 million.
“We
have over 130 facilities but we think a lot of revenue from these
facilities is not remitted during that time. We are therefore suggesting
that during those days we should put up an assumption that they are all
full or we increase on the enforcement to keep track on how may guests
they get each day,” Muwanga observes. He further points out that they
have also noted that there are individuals who use their homes as
lodging during the celebrations days which is another avenue they are
considering to tax them since the laws provide for measures of doing
so.
The Uganda Martyrs annual celebration, which is now a
renowned national event, was set aside in honour of the martyrdom of 45
young men who converted to Christianity between 1885 and 1887 to the
annoyance of the then Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda, who ordered that they
are burnt to death.
Every June 3rd millions of pilgrims from
within and outside Uganda descend on Namugongo, the site where the
majority of the converts were martyred, in celebration of their
bravery.