Cement is stored on the ground floor
Ugandan manufacturers have been accused of increasing commodity prices due to the proposed taxes in the tax bills for Financial Year 2026/27 yet the taxes have not been approved by Parliament.
Members of parliament on the Finance Committee of Parliament including Karim Masaba of Mbale Industrial City Division and Paul Omara of Otuke Country, tasked the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) to explain why there is already an increase in prices of commodities like cement, fuel , and cooking oil on the market, yet the proposed taxes in the tax bills have not yet been passed by Parliament.
Appearing in the finance committee, Businge Rwabwogo, the General Manager of Operations at Mukwano Group of Companies, said the increase in prices of vegetable oil on the market is not a result of tax proposals, but due to increase in prices of raw materials.
Responding to MPs ‘ concerns, Martin Maku of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda said it’s illegal and unacceptable for manufacturers to increase prices of their commodities, yet the budget for the financial year 2026-2027 has not yet been passed by parliament.
Giving his views on the proposed tax bills, Maku rejected some of the tax proposals, including the proposed Excise duty on cement from 500 to one thousand shillings, saying the increase will affect the growing housing sector since a few Ugandans can afford good houses.
The Parliamentary Finance Committee has started hearing views from members of the public including traders, manufacturers, and broadcasters on the proposed tax bills before passing the budget.
