SEATINI and CEEWA Hold Sensitization Meeting for Members of Parliament on Gender Responsive Taxation for MSEs

On 11th March 11, 2022, SEATINI Uganda in partnership with the Council for Economic Empowerment for Women of Africa – Uganda Chapter held a Sensitization Meeting for Members of Parliament on Gender Responsive Taxation for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs).

The meeting was aimed at creating awareness on taxation in Uganda and how it impacts different gender groups. During the meeting, findings from a study “Gender Responsive Taxation for Micro and Small Enterprises” were shared with Members of Parliament. The study which was conducted by CEEWA Uganda and SEATINI Uganda focuses on current taxation and user fees and their impact of micro and small business owned by men and women in selected urban markets.

While giving her remarks during the meeting, Ms Jane Nalunga, the Executive Director of SEATINI Uganda, noted that it is important for policy makers to understand the link between tax and gender as a strategy to ensure that the tax policies in place are responsive to the needs of the different gender groups, especially women, given their marginalization and the roles they play in society.

Ms Jane Nalunga further reiterated that tax and economic policies affect different categories of people differently.
‘‘Most of tax and economic policies are gender blind. There is need for government to assess how different taxes affect different categories of people including women,’’ Nalunga said.

Ms Mariam Babu, the Chairperson of the Women’s Cross Border Traders Cooperative Society decried the information gap that exists among women cross border traders as regards taxation and border procedures. ‘‘For example, some of the women cross border traders lack information pertaining to the procedure of crossing the border and other clearance formalities,’’ Babu said.

Ms Catherine Nanzige, a vendor and in-charge of women affairs in Nakawa market and chairperson Nakawa Market Food Processors Cooperative Society brought to light that women in markets face numerous challenges including being manhandled by tax collectors who use primitive methods of revenue collection, burden of multiple taxation, limited capital and failure to benefit from government programs such as Emyooga, reallocation of their stalls to other traders in case of absence from work for sometime among others.

‘‘Government should design special programs specifically targeting market vendors,’’ Nanzige said.
Hon. Aogon Silas, Member of Parliament, Kumi Municipality, Kumi District noted that Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has forced a lot on tax compliance and limited efforts are directed towards tax education.

Ms Grace Namugambe, Program Officer, SEATINI Uganda emphasized the need to ensure that women collectively understand taxation and how it can be used as a tool to address the challenges they face. Gender responsive taxation is critical in order for us to achieve gender equality.
Mr. Ssozi Godfrey, Manager Customs, URA noted that cross border associations/traders are exempted from paying 6% Withholding tax.
Some of the key issues raised during the meeting included;
• Some of the taxes are regressive for example the trading license and VAT;
• The multiple Local Government user fees affect women traders
• Local Revenue Mobilization is adhoc

SEATINI Uganda is committed towards promoting inclusive, accountable and equitable domestic revenue mobilization policies and practices in Uganda.