High taxes levied on raw materials for assistive appliances undermining the potential of PWDs: Experts
Drake Nyamugabwa
Various organizations advocating, for and empowering People With Disabilities (PWDs) especially children have expressed concern about the high taxes imposed on raw materials that are imposed on imported raw materials that make up assistive appliances.
The organizations’ leadership has said that taxes levied on assistive technology for people with disabilities are denying them their right to improve their functionality, and have limited mobility among other challenges.
This was revealed during the Africa Disability Summit on Assistive Technology organized by Mukisa Foundation, held on 5th July 2024 at the UMA Show round’s multi-purpose hall under the theme: “Unlocking potential through assistive technologies”
In an interview, the Chairman Board of Special Children Trust, Dr. Samuel Mayanja Ssekajja, who also gave a Key Note Speech, said that the legal system's failure to award tax exemption on materials for assistive technologies has hindered people with disability from living their full potential.
“The law doesn’t exempt such technologies, making accessibility to those assistive appliances very expensive while making it hard for special needs people to do what they wish to do,” he said
The Doctor added that the tax body in Uganda has continuously classified such technologies as “luxuries” yet, they are “basic tools” that the government needs to categorize as social needs that t is catered for in the budget.
“Whereas the wheelchair is exempted, the raw materials are taxed highly making the cost more expensive than the wheelchair itself. Such technologies to URA are classified as luxuries whereas it's supposed to be a basic tool” he said
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Florence Namaganda, The Executive Director of Mukisa Foundation said that if given support every child can live to their full potential.
“If a child gets the necessary support, they can live a purposeful life, there is no child who comes by mistake or a curse, every child is a blessing,” she said in a video clip.
Hon. David Lagen, MP Agago District from the Uganda Parliamentary Forum for PWD said that as legislators, they are tasked with the role to commit to ensuring that all processes and legislation for PWDs are put in place and to advocate all stakeholders in Uganda.
“We look into mobilizing resources for PWDs, accountability of responsible institutions to enable full rights of PWDs to participate in key decision-making and we influence policy, and laws to ensure programs are inclusive to PWDS” he said.
The Manager from The Trade and Customs Department of URA, Sheila Kyomugisha told the PWD leadership that all tax exemptions are under the law adding that specifically the item on the physically handicapped have exemptions on certain motor vehicles, wheel chairs among other properties.
She said that engagements are very crucial in widening the scope of the law considerations to reach as far as artificial intelligence.
