400 Land Lords in Bugembe town council are up in arms against the proposal by the town council to charge them property tax. They have threatened to stage a demonstration next month to protest the enforcement of the property tax.
The land lords resolved this today in a meeting convened at Bugembe maternity ward.
Elisa Semujju, who led the Land Lords, says they are opposed to the property tax because none of them earns 50 million shillings from renting their premises. They claim the property rates are being imposed on them to benefit the selfish interests of the town council leaders. Safina Nabirye, a land lady from Katende accuses the local leaders of being ignorant of the property tax law.
She says that none of them was evaluated before the tax rates were decided. Nabirye says it will unfair for Bugembe town council to force them to pay property without knowing how much they earn. Charles Mubezi, a resident of Budhumbilu east supports the land lords. Mubezi advises the town council to sensitize the land lords before they enforce the collection of the property rates.
He also faults the town council officials for failing to attend the meeting with the property owners to respond to some of their concerns over the proposed tax despite being invited. But Charles Tatwale Ngobi, speaker Bugembe town council says they are only implementing a government directive.
The property tax is provided for under the 1997, local government act. According to the act the tax is collected by local government, which also determines the prevailing rates. Abdul Batambuze, Bugembe town council town clerk says the property tax rates don’t exceed 2 percent.
