According to Kutosi, the operations will cover the entire city until they recover over Shillings 3 billion that they expected to collect from the ground rent.
Mbale City Authorities have closed over 200 business premises for alleged
failure to pay ground for the 2019/2021 financial year.
Robert Kutosi, the Public Relations Officer Mbale
City Authority, says the operation targeted business premises in Northern city
division along Republic street and Pallisa road.
He says the delayed failure to pay the ground rate has created difficulties
in service delivery as they cannot pay casual workers, collecting rubbish,
repair roads and install security lights among others.
According to Kutosi, the
operations will cover the entire city until they recover over Shillings 3
billion that they expected to collect from the ground rent.
//Cue in:…..
Cue Out:.................................PRO on tax,"//
Ronald Kimanayi, one of the affected business people along Pallisa road accused
property owners for failure to pay the tax yet they pay rent on time. He says they
are likely to lose business since their shops are closed.
Silaji Muduku, one of the property owners along Pallisa blamed their failure to
clear ground rate on the delayed payment of rent by their tenants.
He says that
most of his tenants have gone over three months without paying rent on the
grounds that they are still recovering from the evicts of the COVID-19 lockdown.
//Cue in:........
Cue Out:.................Muduku on close,"//
Weswa Ronnie
Freelancer