The President General of Democratic Party-DP in the company of the Secretary General and Legal advisor will appear before the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights to give account of the violation of fundamental human rights that occurred pre, during and post 2021 general election.
“In the same spirit, Democratic Party continues to condemn with utmost contempt the blatant violation of Human Rights which has clearly manifested among those that have been dumped from the dungeons of terror, call them torture chambers,” said Okoler Opio Lo Amanu, the DP Spokesperson.
“At least from the reports we have received, there is fear that has been deliberately created by the abductors into the victims that narrating their ordeals would actually cause their re-arrest, this has made them captives of their past, some have been told never to appear before cameras, others have been told to lie before camera that they were treated well while in detention centres the whereabouts of which they cannot tell.”
The Democratic Party also condemned the manner in which government is imposing taxes on Ugandans, the most recent one being the annual car licence tax that is proposed to car owners. The said tax existed in past years and was removed and attached to fuel so whoever that bought fuel paid this tax, this subsequently caused the fuel prices to shoot high.
“We have all reasons to believe that the tax in question has been brought in bad faith, therefore it should be fought by all right thinking members of society. Unless the government assures the country that the prices of fuel will reduce on passing the proposed tax in question, short of that this will amount to double taxation which is unacceptable and indeed against the principles of taxation,” Opio said.
“There are voices being heard from those that don’t own vehicles, they think it is not a matter concerning them, what they forget is that as long as one hopes to travel by passenger service vehicle then this tax will descend on you through high transport fares so it is an evil that must be fought by all whether a peasant in my village of Awokei B in Pallisa who is without a car or an elite in Naguru who owns a number of vehicles. This law actually also seeks to annually tax engineering plants, meaning whoever that operates machines at his workshop will definitely be affected.”
“That said, we do call upon all Ugandans to approach their members of Parliament and dissuade them from passing the said bill into law which seeks to criminalize owning a car without paying the annual licence tax.”
Currently out of 45 million Ugandans only 1.5 million Ugandans pay tax inclusive of the tax defaulters this is because the sector that supports the biggest portion of the population has been ignored, therefore DP strongly believe that the government should deliberately invest a substantial amount of money in Agriculture for encouraging commercial farming such that the 80 per cent is given capacity to contribute in a substantial manner to the Country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Conclusively on this matter, it’s important to note that the citizens must enjoy the value that comes from taxes, in that case it will make more sense to the taxpayer. Now, driving on Uganda roads is risky, the nature of our roads is so appalling. I think government should first show value for money by constructing the roads before imposing a double taxation on her citizenry.”
The Democratic Party in a special way also appreciated the contribution of a team of brave health workers as led by Dr. Epodoi from Soroti Regional Referral Hospital. “We thank you for saving a life, you have lived by the hippocratic oath that you took to save lives.”
“Lastly, we shall not tire reminding this government that salaries of our health workers should not only be increased but also advanced to them in time so that they encounter no encumbrances psychological or otherwise while executing their duties.”
