The Uganda National Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) is requesting an additional Shs23.7 billion to settle tax obligations for 120,000 tablet computers purchased for the upcoming national population census in May.
The tablet computers total cost is Shs132 billion.
UBOS’s Executive Director, Chris Mukiza, along with officials from the finance ministry, presented their Ministerial Policy Statement to the Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development on April 3, 2024.
UBOS bought 38,000 tablets at a price of US$540 each and 82,000 tablets at US$164 each in August, which will be utilized by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Electoral Commission post-census.
Despite UBOS’s request for a tax waiver, the finance ministry decided on a deferral, raising concerns about future compliance with Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) regulations.
Mukiza cautioned about potential disruptions to UBOS operations, citing difficulties with getting their shipments through customs.
“At customs, we have to seek provisional release for each shipment. Customs has granted us until September 2024, but they may come and close Statistics House,” he mentioned.
Finance State Minister, Amos Lugolobi, maintained that granting waivers might set a negative precedent for other organizations.
“The minister has agreed to delay tax payment. There is no need to worry unnecessarily,” Lugolobi assured.
Committee chairperson, Hon. Amos Kankunda, expressed support for UBOS, emphasizing the need to ease the bureau’s tax burden. He pledged cooperation to resolve the issue given UBOS’s reporting structure to the Ministry of Finance.
Hon. Mpindi Bumali (Indep., PWDs) inquired about the tablet costs and their future use.
Lugolobi explained that the tablets will be utilized by UBOS, NIRA, and EC and the purchase was approved by Cabinet for long-term use.
Meanwhile, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), represented by Executive Director Benson Turyame, proposed additional funding of Shs13.6 billion to expand procurement audits and monitor local content implementation in public procurement, among other initiatives.
The authority’s projected budget is Shs24.1 billion.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.