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Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for Finance had petitioned Parliament to exempt Kananura, a real estate dealer, from his outstanding tax liabilities
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Parliament
Parliament has rejected the government's request to exempt businessman Donati Kananura from paying taxes amounting to Shs2,696,768,814, citing unconvincing justifications. The request had been made on the grounds that Kananura suffers from diabetes and prostate enlargement, conditions that have allegedly left him incapacitated to meet his tax obligations.
Amos Kankunda, Chairperson of the Finance Committee, informed Parliament that the Ministry of Finance had sought to exempt Kananura from Value Added Tax (VAT) of Shs1,285,685,354 and rental income tax amounting to Shs1,141,083,460. However, after failing to present a compelling case, the government was forced to withdraw the proposal.
“While processing this request, the Committee was not convinced on the basis for the application of a tax waiver by the taxpayer. Accordingly, the Minister conceded and withdrew the tax waiver request by Mr. Donati Kananura. In compliance with Rule 199(4), the Committee guided the Minister to formally withdraw the request on the floor of the House,” said Kankunda.
Henry Musasizi
In August 2024, Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for Finance, had petitioned Parliament to exempt Kananura, a real estate dealer, from his outstanding tax liabilities. Musasizi argued that Kananura's financial struggles stem from his medical conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, prostate enlargement, and vision impairment. The Minister further claimed that most of Kananura’s income is spent on medical expenses, which has resulted in significant indebtedness due to loans taken for property acquisition, development, and renovations. Despite these claims, MPs maintained that health conditions alone do not justify tax exemption and stressed the importance of all taxpayers fulfilling their obligations to the state.
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