{UAH} Abbey, Mr Bwanika, Mr Ekwelu: before we move on

Folks

Do something.

For Abbey, organize the pineapple farmers  by whatever means. The farmers need voice.  They need to be counted to give them voice through WhatsApp and local initiatives.

For Mr. Ekwelu: help to organize residents/taxpayers. Mobilize them not to resist taxes but rather to demand accountability from tax authorities. How many Residents Associations are active in the city, especially in this era of WhatsApp?  Why haven't landlords-organize them too-challenged URA's unprofessional tactics  of demanding taxes from gross rental income on a monthly basis?   Why have Ugandans protested o par aliment to look into  that injustice. To be clear, the injustice is not paying taxes, but rather they way URA assesses the tax on rental income. 

Ordinarily, tax authorities are unbale to dead monthly taxes from rental income until the end of the financial year when landlords report their earnings and taxes due if any.  Like I said it is possible to be earning rental income but making no taxable income at the end.

Btw, are mortgage payments on loans deductible for tax purposes? What about interests payments on commercial/business loans? This is important . For the sake of this argument, a group of Ugandans borrowed money and out up a hostel to provide accommodation for students.  Surely, the hostel makes money but that does not mean it makes taxable income. Hostel owners may have zero or even negative (loss)  net earnings by the time of filing taxes.

 

Ugandan tax payers need to be organized too. I am surprised because the crucial parliamentary committee that has  power over URA is run by FDC MP. Why have not they summoned URA and the Finance minister on that question of demanding monthly taxes on gross rental income?  Abbey, why are your FDC party MPs sleeping on the job instead of doing real oversight?

Mr. Bwanika: help to organize framers in Bulemezi and beyond.   Please look at these sources for some community organizing ideas and strategies. Communities are not entirely lacking in leadership/assets and may simply need help to organize and speak with a collective voice.    Look at these sources on asset based community development (ABCD) . 

1. Kretzman , J.P. & McKnight, J.L. (1993). Building Communities from inside out: A path towards finding and mobilizing a community's assets . Evanston, IL.: Northwestern University Press.

2. Green, G. & Haines, A. (2011). Asset building  and comunit6y development. London: Sage Publications.

From your postings, the half full glass  analogy applies to the situation. Help the farmers to fill the glass. .

Btw, is there a national organization for farmers? What about dairy farmers? Pineapple farmers etc.?  They are necessary to help framers amplify their concerns. Framers should have WhatsApp groups to share ideas and concerns. The framers should elect credible spokespeople to call in tall shows whenever the talking heads who complain about higher food prices in Uganda are on air.

Framers groups should work on market intelligence to research issues such as, where is market demand growing for their produce? What are the emerging trends among Ugandans/regionally/globally etc?. With such information, farmers can adjust. But that can only happen if you and others on the ground help to organize farmers. 

So in a few months it would be nice to hear that guess what, the farmers are organized.

wbk