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Ministry of Finance and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officials yesterday struggled to convince Parliament’s Committee on Finance to endorse a government plan to extend tax waivers of about Shs13 billion to eight entities.

In his plea made before the committee, the State Minister for Finance-in-charge of General Duties, Mr Henry Musasizi, asked MPs to exempt entities that comprised academic institutions and business outlets from paying taxes.

The eight institutions include Makerere Business Institute (MBI) (Shs239.3 million), Nkumba University (Shs4.47 billion), M/S J2E Investment Corporation Ltd (Shs2.71 billion) and Donati Kananura (Shs3.776 billion).

The others are; Nicontra Ltd seeking an exemption of Shs1.863 billion, Mr Peter Lokwang who wants a waiver of 770.29 million, Busoga University with Shs1.566 billion and Kisiizi Hospital Power Ltd with Shs155.392 million.

However, the legislators, including Mr Karim Masaba and Shadow Finance Minister Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, questioned the criteria the government used to arrive at the eight entities to be exempted from taxes.

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