Road safety tax is unnecessary, burden to taxpayers

I wish to differ with the government’s plan to introduce road safety tax as reported in Daily Monitor of December 30.
It is said the funds will be used to sponsor road safety campaigns. This move is unrealistic.

This is taking advantage of taxpayers who are vulnerable to tax creations and are soft targets for revenue collection as if there are no virgin avenues for revenue base.

The tax burden on motorists is already big and biting and yet the government wants to create this uncalled for tax. If the said campaigns help to reduce accidents then they should be financed under the budgetary provisions of the line ministries.

If the government intends to raise revenue, it should attract more investors to the country rather than over tax vehicle owners.
My advice to the government is to prioritise enforcement of the Traffic and Road Safety Act 1998 by the Uganda Police Force.
The police need to rise up to the occasion and decisively apprehend traffic offenders otherwise campaigns alone cannot be effective.
Richard Elwelu,
Kampala