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To ensure smoothness in this process, the tax body reached out to different stakeholders to get their input. It was against this background that they met with representatives from the textile industry.
The purpose of the meeting was to update the industry players on the valuation database change and to discuss the difficulties they are having with the valuation procedures.
Fred Sekimpi, the Chairperson of the Uganda Tailors Association expressed concern about the rigid tax laws. This is especially the “arrogance of officers,”. Then the 35% import duty on imported clothing and textiles. And finally smuggling, which he said creates discrepancies and unfairness in the market.
“As tailors, we are the end manufacturers in the textile and garments industry. So with the valuation of textiles going up, we are struggling to buy fabric as it is expensive. As a result, importers will not import commodities that are not being consumed on the market,” he said
Sekimpi also expressed dissatisfaction with the protracted appeals process, and delays by the Document Processing Centre and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. He alleges that these delays negatively impact their businesses.
Acidri asked the traders to report to the URA any attempts at tax evasion. “Since customs revenue collection is a significant source of national revenue, it is crucial to identify customs value fraud,” he added.
His words were a comfort to traders who thanked URA for including them in the database update process.
He also expressed hope that the use of the revised values will guarantee equitable treatment for all and guarantee that everybody pays their fair share of taxes.
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
