KAMPALA- Uganda Cabinet has directed the minister of Finance Planning and Economic development to release Sh32,757,240,000 to relocate the Bududa landslide victims on the Mount Elgon slope.
According to the press statement released on Tuesday by Minister of ICT Frank Tumwebaze cabinet this Monday during a meeting chaired by President Museveni at State House Entebbe resolved that the Sh32,757,240,000 (32.76billion) is to be got from Contingency Fund to resettle people of Bududa in Bulambuli government land.
Last week Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, the prime minister, said that government was helping more than 500 victims affected by the disaster with a plan on going to relocate.
He said more than 100,000 people are at risk of landslides in the mountainous areas of Elgon and Rwenzori sub-regions, and about 20,000 people are likely to be displaced in the next four months.
A Couple days ago, the minister for disasters management and preparedness, Eng. Hillary Onek threatened to resign from office with reason that his effort to manage yearly landslides in Bududa district has never been given attention from the government.
In 2010, the government relocated and resettled hundreds of people who survived landslides in Bududa to the district of Kiryandongo, but many of them have since returned. At least 300 people were killed and thousands forced to evacuate after a landslide buried three villages in March 2010.
On the other hand, the same Cabinet meeting also approved a new tax to Bus and Taxi operators as Park User fee where each bus will pay Sh 2.400.000 per annum and Taxi shall pay Sh840.000 per annum.
However, the Sh840.000 on taxi shared between the origin and destination local government and KCCA at a ratio of 40:60 respectively while taxi commuting in KCCA will only pay Sh 720,000 per annum. And for buses Sh 2.400.000 per annum which shall be shared equally among all the urban authorities on the route charts.
The details of the Cabinet meeting here read as below :
Cabinet sat on Monday, October 15, 2018 at statehouse Entebbe under the chairmanship of H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda, and approved levying and collection of park User fees on Passenger Service Vehicles (PSVs) whereby each taxi shall pay Sh840.000 per annum to be shared between the origin and destination local government and KCCA at a ratio of 40:60 respectively.
Taxis operating between two urban authorities shall also pay Sh840.000per annum which shall be shared in a ratio of 60:40 for origin-loading and destination respectively.
Commuter taxis in Kampala to pay Sh 720,000 every year.
Buses to pay Sh2.400.000 per annum which shall be shared equally among all the urban authorities on the route charts.
The purpose of the above levy is to harmonize tax system of Kampala Capital City Authority and other Local Governments.
To stop multiple taxation and daily levies on taxis (Public Service Vehicles) and provide for a single annual payment and also stop the use of agents in the collection of Park User fees from taxi operators.
