Kadaga: Parliament Can Only Review OTT, Mobile Money Tax through New Bill

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has ruled that Parliament does not have powers to interfere with a law that is already enacted in this case referring to the mobile money and social media tax.

She said this as she chaired a session on Thursday where she told MPs that once a Bill becomes law, it can only be changed through an amendment and not a “mere directive.”

Kadaga says that whereas there is public outcry, the government should be allowed to make adjustments through the proposed review hence asked the government to expedite on its amendments process short of which, a private member member’s Bill will be granted for discussion.

“What I am saying, members, is that, we don’t have the capacity to interfere with the law except by bringing an amendment,” Kadaga said.

“I therefore urge government to move expeditiously and bring the Excise Duty Amendment Bill which they promised; I urge the Prime Minister to listen to the concerns of the people of Uganda and bring the proposal to the House for enactment,” Kadaga said.

Meanwhile, MPs including Busiro East’s Medard Lubega Segona and Jinja East MP Paul Mwiru want the government to refund the money that was erroneously collected from mobile money taxes on deposits since this is not included in the law regarding this.

Speaker Kadaga ruled that those who are aggrieved about these deductions should run to courts of law.

On the same evening, President Museveni said in a post on Facebook that those whose money was erroneously deducted during implementation of mobile money tax on deposits would be reimbursed.