By Shamim Nateebwa
The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has aksed Ugandans living in the diaspora to send more donations in form of medical and school supplies back home without any fear of them being taxed.
The Rt Hon Kadaga says with the right procedures, arrangements can be made with the Ministry of Finance to import donations tax free from the Diaspora.
Kadaga who was addressing a Technology, Trade and Investment Forum at the Ugandan North American Association in Miami, Florida, on Friday was responding to a comment that some philanthropists in the Diaspora have been frustrated by bottlenecks in Uganda when they donate medical, educational or other technological items.
“You should not hesitate at all to send us equipment that is both for education or medical use because of fear of it being highly taxed; with proper planning our colleagues in the central government can arrange for lifting of taxes because we need all the help we can get,” she said.
She said that in certain cases, the government might totally exempt the taxes without the line ministry having to pay.
Speaking at the same event, the Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa said the problem was with some Ugandans taking advantage of the system to import equipment that they intend to sell or use for private business.
