URA Officials that tax innovators should be jailed, says Museveni

President Museveni has expressed displeasure upon learning that start-up innovators are being heavily taxed by the revenue collection body, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

Museveni, who made the remarks during his official visit at the National Science Week at Kololo Independence Grounds on Thursday, November 9, 2023, said that start-up innovators should not be taxed since their businesses are still young and therefore vulnerable.

The President’s remarks followed a revelation by science minister Monica Musenero that start-up innovators are being heavily taxed by URA.

The President also pledged to support the science community with sh 500 billion for research and innovation.

Museveni’s pledge came after the Minister of Science, Monica Musenero, decried poor funding from the government, something he said has stalled many scientific innovations that were ongoing.

“Our main problem is a lack of funding. We have many projects that have been ongoing, but most have stalled because we don’t have the money to move forward. We received orders to deliver the Kira EV buses, but we were unable to do so because we lacked capital,” she said. The minister told the president that approximately Sh500 million would be needed to kickstart this project again.

In response, Museveni encouraged the science minister to come up with a proposal that would enable her to access government funding.

“Sh500 billion is little money; please make a proposal so that you are able to access funding,” Museveni said.