Parliament’s Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry has faulted its line Minister, Hon. Harriet Ntabazi for overstepping her mandate and issuance of an illegitimate directive that has disrupted rice business in the country.
This was revealed by Mwine Mpaka, the Committee Chairperson while presenting its investigation report during plenary sitting yesterday after a petition to Parliament by the Kampala Rice Traders Association in May, 2022.
On 21 April 2022, Hon. Ntabazi issued a directive to the Commissioner, Customs Uganda Revenue Authority, directing the Authority to stop clearing Value Added Tax and exempted rice imports at the borders thereby frustrating trade.
Hon. Mpaka who described Ntabazi’s actions as ‘disruptive and a frustration of rice trade, before the report being adopted by the House which called upon the Inspector General of Government to investigate the actions of Ntabazi that ‘tantamount to abuse of office and corruption. Hon. Mapka speaking………
However, in response, Ntabazi challenged the report and argued that the main objective of putting private sector entities as an apex body was to enhance proper self-regulation. END
