The government has warned local council one chairpersons to immediately stop soliciting unauthorized payments from citizens acquiring public services.
The Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, made these remarks on February 24, 2024, during an interview on a local radio station, where he stated that the 10% fee on land transactions that local council one chairperson demand for before approving land sales, fees to stamp on official documents and others is illegal.
The Magyezi further stated that LC1 leaders should adhere to the law guiding their operations and stop all unlawful tendencies. And instructed the local government chief administrative officers to monitor the operations of LC1s in their jurisdictions.
“We are having taxes which are not regulated, which are not known properly. So you go to buy a piece of land and LCs demand for some money for me to have my document stamped, 10% of 200 million is 20 million. If there is an administrative unit that is collecting UGX 20 million in one transaction, that’s a very serious matter,” Magyezi said.
He further clarified that no fee should be charged for stamps. And the ministry decision is the law, there is no stamp duty in local government at that level, and taxes that are not known in the law are not allowed.
On the same development, he made these remarks while addressing leaders during a cadre training held at the Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre in Omoro district on January 9, 2024, that village and parish chairpersons to offer services free for the community.