Though shall not drive to drink and eat well: More taxes on fuel, alcohol and cooking oil

I have realised that after every election, there are always more stringent taxes imposed on basic commodities like fuel, sugar, cooking oil and everyday commodities, among others.

Connecting the dots, I have a school of thought that the planners would be aiming at recovering the money “you” [the voter] took during campaign period and we were joyfully singing about it.

In reality, these tax hikes are going towards covering the expenditures of those legislators you “chewed” their money during campaigns such that they forget their stress and live happily there after.

Calculating the cost; the vigilant veteran journalist and former MP for Kiira Municipality Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda lay it bare; “There is no 28billion to pay intern doctors in the budget… no 8billion for UNEB to train teachers on how to mark new syllabus, no 3.5billion to complete new syllabus but there is 211billion for welfare and entertainment for big people;

“Shs536 billion for special meals and drinks for big people, 196 billion for big people to donate, 17 billion for firewood, gas and charcoal and 2.6 trillion for classified expenditure!”

We are paying the price for our “our man” chants and shouting the loudest for whoever pulls the shs5,000 or shs10,000 notes against shs1,000 or shs2,000 notes; now it’s time to carry your cross and theirs like Simon of Syrene helped Jesus in the Bible.

The government now is set to raise the following taxes domestically; and by domestic tax I simply refer to any tax that a government levies on income, goods, services, and transactions that happen entirely within the borders of that country.

This is a bird view into which areas are vividly touched and the sum it’s expected to raise.

Since most of the money the politicians “gave you” during elections were spent on alcohol in bars and trading centers, the government shall in the next financial year 2026/2026 raise shs 85 billion in tax from alcohol which incited you to ask for more money from them in exchange for your vote.

Be happy and pay the way you were when you received and drank their money.

Shs26 billion from motorcycle registration, shs25 billion from sugar, shs25 billion from cooking oil, shs15 billion on cooking fats, shs24 billion from paints, shs15 billion from cement and shs10 Billion from polythene bags, among others. These are everyday things you use and there have been tax increments on them.

If we continue normalising “chewing” money from politicians, begging them to contribute towards community marriages, sicknesses, buying pencils for kindergarten kids, offering free t-shirts, buying sandals and others; we should embrace the new taxes with pleasure as was with the DFCU bank slogan.

As we move towards reducing dependency on foreign donations and foreign borrowing, we ought to support our national budget and as well check on wasteful expenditures which majorly come disguised as public service or administration costs, classified non security budgets among others.

I implore Ugandans especially those who categorise themselves as vulnerable and poor to ask for service delivery from duty bearers which has a lasting impact instead of asking for the shs1,000 which finds a way to inflate itself and you pay more than you received during elections and unrealistic demands from politicians.