Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) commissioner general John Rujooki says the authority is not responsible for the increase in the prices of poultry feeds in the country.
Rujooki made the remarks while appearing before Parliament’s committee on trade to respond to a petition by the Kampala City Traders’ association protesting the decision by the authority to reintroduce 10% VAT on animal feeds concentrates.
Luuka district Woman MP Esther Mbayo asked the committee to reconsider these taxes, saying that they will affect the cost of feeds.
She added that the price of feeds has already gone up since the authority introduced the tax and that before the new levy, a bag of 50kg was going for sh170,000, but it is now at sh215,000.
Mbayo’ s submission was supported by the representatives of the poultry association in the country who also decried the decision by URA, saying that it was going to affect their business.
Rujooki rejected the argument, saying that after the outcry of the traders, the authority decided to stay the execution of the law until they have made proper consultations on the tax measures.
Rujooki added that if the price of animal feeds has gone up, Parliament should investigate the cause of the problem because the problem does not emanate from them.
