Appearing before Parliament’s Finance Committee, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi has endorsed President Museveni’s tax proposals, settling debates over casino exemptions and the levy on single-use plastics. Lawmakers have now aligned with the president’s position, marking a significant step in the ongoing tax amendments.

Appearing before the Committee on Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, the minister of state for finance, Henry Musasizi, has agreed to the tax proposals provided by the president following the controversial clauses concerning tax exemptions for land-based casinos and a sharp levy hike on single-use plastics.

Members of the committee agreed with the president's proposal on Clause 11 of the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, which introduced a 15% withholding tax on players' net winnings from betting and gaming, carving out an exemption for winnings earned from licensed land-based casinos. It was, however, proposed that both land-based and online casinos be taxed.

However, on Clause 2(e) of the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, which proposed a drastic increase in excise duty on single-use plastics, jumping from 2.5% up to 25%, concerns grew on how revenue would be collected after already budgeting for the 25%—despite the fact that it has now been pushed back to 2.5% as proposed by the president—while some argued that plastic ‘kaveeras’ should be banned entirely.

The issue of environmental conservation arose as the ministry was tasked to explain how it would achieve its objectives, especially around single-use plastics, while also protecting the environment.