The Minister of State for Finance, David Bahati has assured the country that no taxes can be imposed without the approval of Parliament.
Bahati made this assurance while responding to a matter that was raised by the Kassanda North MP, Patrick Oshabe Nsamba that there was a plan to impose excise duty on agency banking and ATM withdrawals during yesterday’s plenary.
Oshabe said that a letter from the Ministry of Finance to the Governor, Bank of Uganda seeking guidance on the same has been widely circulated on social media.
Bahati said that the letter was authored by the Deputy Secretary to the Treasurer inviting the Governor of the Central Bank to consult on an internal engagement with the Finance Ministry.
He added that the internal memo that leaked was consulting the Central Bank but not a proposal by law and it was not to the House and has no bearing to the House.
Kasilo County Member of Parliament Elijah Okupa insisted that it was not an internal memo but a letter written to the Governor, Bank of Uganda.
The Speaker directed the Finance Minister to present proposals for taxation to the House.
