Mr. Mulindwa,
You started your argument well but you sturbonely refused to apply your federal knowledge to Uganda's situation. When the President or ruling party wants to negotiate an issue, he should not start by specifically ruling out the BASIC FUNDAMENTALS of the negotiation. In other words NRM cannot say "come and negotiate BUT NO TAX POWERS TO BE GIVEN under the federo". Thats not how its done in developing civilized countries. secondly, the govt cannot close out the rest of Uganda when some of the other parts wants it also. This shows that there are some monkey tricks behind.
You asked: ----------------------...................................................- For look at it this way, suppose Uganda
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------government agrees today and Buganda collects taxes, Kasese will ask for Kilembe mines, and Jinja will ask for rights on River Nile. How will the central government run Uganda as a state?
Look at Canada where you reside. Over 50% of Canadian economy is in Ontario. Alberta is the sole producer and exporter of oil in Canada. Do you want to tell us that the rest of the provinces are so poor because the federal govt gives tax powers to provinces? Do you want to say that the federal govt does not get enough from Ontario and Alberta to distribute to the "have not" because of tax powers?
Mr. Mulindwa, the federal govt collects 7% GST from all provinces. Provincial govt have powers to levy their own taxes.e.g Ontario has 8% Provincial Sales Tax ( PST), Eastern provinces have the highest PST and Alberta does not charge PST at all yet it has the strongest economy in Canada. Many businesses run away from Eastern provinces and relocated to Alberta because of 0% PST and other taxes. Federal govt charges from 17% I.Tax above $7,400 p.a on individuals. Some provinces add on their own I.Tax e.g Ontario adds on 49% of the Federal Tax. Others like quebec add on higher % and Alberta adds on the lowest. In otherwords let the Uganda govt give federal states tax powers, demand and supplies will work out the rest. That does not remove the tax powers and the ability to reallocate funds from the "have" to the "have not" from the central govt.
J. Ssenyange -------------------------------------- : "Mulindwa Edward" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: ugnet_: NRM's Federo has been rejected by Baganda. Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2003 11:40:57 -0400
Lisa
There is as well another problem in this whole 'negotiation' Many nations I
have seen which turn into Federal nations it happens through negotiation not
instructions, and Senyange with the rest of them are missing that very vital
part.
For argument sake let us say that Museveni is a serious man who one can go
into such discussion with, and let us say that Buganda wants Federalism for
the whole of Uganda. The highest man in this whole matter is Museveni and
not Buganda. Museveni with his government decides what kind of federalism
they are capable to deliver, they decide what powers they can offer or
refuse, that is why you see that when you look on federal countries they are
all running differently. Nations like Canada, are still negotiating with the
provinces on what to take and what to leave. Toronto as a city has just been
down loaded with services like roads, Public transportation and so on,
Quebec in the meantime runs her own immigration yet other provinces do not.
So in essence the negotiations must be continuous. You get more and more as
you are demonstrating your ability to run the little powers given to you.
Let us not forget that Uganda government must always have the keeping of
Uganda as a state as priority one, that is how services can be delivered to
all Ugandans equally. So in so doing the same government must keep the
resources which it sees fit to help her reach that goal. And in saying so
Uganda government has every right to see that Buganda is the main tax source
to finance her running of the nation. The government can not turn around and
give its tax base to Buganda that is just impossible.
So if Buganda comes to Uganda government and asks for federalism, that
request must stop there, if NRm today agrees to deliver it, then you can
start to discuss what the government is willing to offer and not to offer.
Buganda there fore can not ask for federalism and turn around and state that
with out taxation rights we do not want federalism. That is pure ignorance
which has been rampant in Buganda all along, and which must stop if Buganda
will play a part in Uganda politics. For look at it this way, suppose Uganda
government agrees today and Buganda collects taxes, Kasese will ask for
Kilembe mines, and Jinja will ask for rights on River Nile. How will the
central government run Uganda as a state?
_________________________________________________________________
Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail
-------------------------------------------- This service is hosted on the Infocom network http://www.infocom.co.ug
