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Vice chancellors want government to scrap VAT on universities
Rev Can John Senyonyi, the vice chancellor of Uganda Christian University. FILE PHOTO
Kampala. The government should exempt universities and other institutions of learning from paying some taxes to enable them deliver their mandate better, university leaders have said.
Rev Can John Senyonyi, the vice chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU) and chairperson of the Vice Chancellors Forum, said on Friday that his forum has written to President Museveni asking for a meeting to discuss this and other matters.
He singled out the Value Added Tax (VAT) on supplies, which he said makes construction and development works in universities very expensive.
“This tax and others need to be completely waived or reduced significantly since government is concerned about development. Right now if I am to put up any building at the university, it is very expensive,” he said.
He made the remarks at the launch of UCU Faculty of Journalism, Media and Communication at the university’s campus in Kampala. The Faculty of Journalism, Media and Communication brings the total number of faculties at the UCU to eight. The dean of the faculty, Dr Monica Chibita, said the faculty will have two departments - the Department of Journalism and Media Studies and the Department of Communication.
“The faculty will be able to groom people who can report accurately and in a professional way because audiences are changing,” Dr Chibita said.
Can Senyonyi said in the meeting the university leaders hope to have with the President, they will re-outline their development objectives and priorities, and explain the challenges they face.
