By Agatha N. Biira and Asenath Were
In the recent presidential address on the state of the economy, held on May 22, 2022, the president said subsidizing taxes on essential commodities is highly unlikely. What is your view on the escalating prices of commodities in relation to the address?
Dr Samuel Eyamu-Senior Lecturer, School of Business
Surprisingly, he talked about external factors such as COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine as factors contributing to high prices. I expected him to offer a solution, maybe subsidize the prices of essential goods such as salt, sugar, and soap, considering most people are struggling. Prior to the address, there was a budget allocation: Shs. 677b was allocated to the state. If he really meant what he said, why couldn’t he cut the budget and allocate this money to the essential commodities? It was selfish because he couldn’t cut down on his own expenses, but he is telling people to eat cassava, whose prices have also increased.
I think it is time we learnt from our neighboring countries. We are not any different from them, and yet, a lot can be done. There are reports of corruption, and these people are still moving freely. Why can’t we recover some of this money?
Daphine Atuhaire-Administrator, Alumni Secretaraite
Everyone is being affected by the prices of these goods, and of course, we have no say about it. If the president has said the taxes may not be reduced, then we have to devise a means to survive. It’s not like our salaries are increasing, but the prices are, so we have to find a way of surviving.
Kefa Senoga-BAMC 2,
I think the government needs to rethink their decision and subsidize the taxes so that people can afford these commodities. Otherwise we are headed for bad times.
Jane Abbo- LLB 3,
First of all, the standards of living are high and our currency has lost value. Not reducing prices means taking us back to poverty. Most people in the villages survive mainly on subsistence farming. How are they expected to survive under such conditions? Trying to tell us to stick to cassava yet its price has also increased doesn’t help. The government workers benefit a lot and don’t feel the pinch like the common man.
Abel Babbel Lumunye- BBA 3,
This only benefits the government since they will still be getting revenue. But on the side of the population, people are suffering.
And the other thing, it is going to create unemployment in the long run because some companies might end up laying off some of their workers.
