George Masengere, the Mukono Municipal Spokesperson says they are waiting for the tribunal to rule on the appeals whether or not to declare and dispose of debts of all academic institutions, factories and hotels that challenged the valuations.
The
increasing numbers of appeals on property valuations by Mukono municipal
authorities is affecting the timely collection of revenue. Mukono municipality
valued buildings and working spaces in 2019 with an intention of expanding its
local revenue base. However, the big institutions and factories in Namanve
industrial park have since appealed against the property valuation.
George
Masengere, the Mukono Municipal Spokesperson says they are waiting for the
tribunal to rule on the appeals whether or not to declare and dispose of debts of
all academic institutions, factories and hotels that challenged the valuations.
Some of the non-compliant institutions on the list include Uganda Christian
University, Midhill nursery school, Victory student hostel, Roofings limited, Collin
hotel and Jopa estates.
Some of the affected institutions told URN that they are
working to settle the debts. By November last year, the debts from the property
rates stood at Shillings 572, 721, 172 million.
//Cue in: “As a municipal…
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Ronald Mukasa, a resident of Mukono municipality says that big institutions tend
to dodge paying taxes, which explains that the huge debts.
//Cue in: “Kati tulina ekizibu…
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During the financial year 2019/2020, Mukono municipality received an advance
fund of Shillings 1billion from the Central government that they were expected to
pay back using local revenue. However,
only Shillings 86 million has been realised.
Jamadah Kajjoba, the Mayor Mukono Municipality says that failure
to pay the whole amount delayed the release of funds from the central government
for the first quarter of the financial year 2020/21, which is already affecting
service delivery. The municipality adopted the E-log Rev, an online
system for local revenue collection in Ggoma and the Central Divisions.
The municipality has so far managed to register 396 billboards, 6216 trading
license, 6189 local service and 7 local hotels. Records at the municipal finance
desk show that most people in the business community are still failing to adapt
to the new system, especially in Ggoma division. The Municipal Council Executive
committee resolved to establish a revenue office at Namanve industrial park and
Ggoma to extend services closer to the people but also realize timely revenue
collections.
