PARLIAMENT
Parliament has passed three key finance-related amendment bills in a single sitting, including the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill 2026, the Tax Procedures Code (Amendment) Bill 2026, and the External Trade (Amendment) Bill 2026. The legislative marathon saw both majority and minority reports presented before the bills advanced through second reading, committee stage, and third reading.
Amos Kankunda [Photo: Parliament]
Excise Duty Bill Sparks Minority Report
Finance Committee Chairperson Amos Kankunda presented the majority report on the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill 2026 during plenary consideration. However, Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda presented a competing minority report, signaling division among lawmakers on the proposed amendments.
Following debate, Speaker put the question for the bill to be read for the second time, and the House agreed. The legislation then proceeded to Committee Stage for clause-by-clause consideration.
A motion was subsequently moved for the adoption of the report of the Committee of the Whole House, which the House adopted, sending the bill to Third Reading. Parliament ultimately passed the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill 2026.
Tax Procedures Code Bill Follows Suit
Minister of State for Finance (General Duties) Henry Musasizi moved the motion for the second reading of the Tax Procedures Code (Amendment) Bill 2026, which was seconded by the House. After agreement on the second reading, the bill advanced to Committee Stage for clause-by-clause consideration.
Parliament later adopted the report of the Committee of the Whole House on the Tax Procedures Code (Amendment) Bill 2026. The bill was read for the third time and passed.
Ssemuju Nganda. [Photo: Parliament]
Ssemujju Cites Poverty Data in Trade Bill Debate
During debate on the External Trade (Amendment) Bill 2026, which Musasizi also moved for second reading, Ssemujju injected poverty statistics into the discourse. The Kira Municipality MP cited 2024 data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, noting that 31% of Ugandans (about 16.5m) do not possess two sets of clothing, with the figure rising to 62% in the Karamoja subregion.
The House agreed to the second reading of the External Trade (Amendment) Bill 2026, sending it to Committee Stage for clause-by-clause consideration. Parliament subsequently read the bill for the third time and passed it.
The three bills now await presidential assent.
Torch Media Africa
