MPs interacting with experts from SEATINIBy Prisca WanyenyaCivil Society Group, the Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) has asked Parliament to consider conducting regional consultations on tax bills instead of limiting consultations to only Kampala, as doing so disfranchises the other regions in UgandaThe call was made by Herbert Kafeero, Deputy Executive Director, SEATINI, during the strategic engagement with Parliament’s Finance Committee, convened to discuss inclusive taxation, public debt and fiscal justice in Uganda on 12th August 2026.Kafeero noted, “Meaningful public participation cannot be achieved through physical consultations held only in Kampala or by inviting the same institutional stakeholders every year. The Finance Committee should conduct regional hearings across Uganda before reporting on significant tax bills.”He defended his stance arguing that farmers, traders, manufacturers, transport operators, local governments, professional bodies, civil society organisations, informal businesses and ordinary taxpayers often experience tax laws differently and if sought across the country, they would provide valuable evidence about practical implementation challenges.“Kenya has increasingly adopted regional public participation exercises on Finance Bills. Such decentralized consultations improve legitimate broadens participation and allows Parliament to appreciate the diversity of economic conditions across the country. Regional consultations would also help Parliament identity unintended consequences before legislation is enacted rather than after dispute arise,” Kafeero added.Aloysious Kittengo, Tax Policy Analyst, SEATINI asked the Finance Committee to require Government to produce empirical studies demonstrating the expected effects on revenue, investment, employment, prices, inequality and economic growth, and thus, Parliament should be reluctant to approve significant tax changes where Government cannot demonstrate that adequate research has been undertaken.He noted, “By insisting on rigorous empirical evidence, expanding public participation, improving transparency, strengthening Committee scrutiny, engaging independent experts, evaluate distribution impact, reviewing legislation after implementation and promoting certainty and simplicity, Parliament can transform into a deliberate process of building a fairer, more progressive and more trusted tax system.” Kafeero also urged the Committee to go beyond approving Tax Bills, but go further to determine whether amendments should be retained, modified or repealed as such monitoring mechanisms would reduce the frequency of reactive annual amendments and encourage more stable predictable tax legislations.He noted, “Passing legislation should not mark the end of Parliament’s oversight role. Major tax amendments should contain review clauses requiring Government to report back after two or three years on whether the objectives have actually been achieved. These reports should assess; actual revenue collected. compliance levels, litigation generated, effects on investments an whether unintended consequences emerged.”Hilda Tumuhe, Debt and Aid for Development Officer at SEATINI noted led the team at SEATINI in talks with the Finance Committee on management of Uganda’s public debt, where Tumuhe argued that despite ongoing efforts to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation, Uganda continues to face significant challenges in mobilising, allocating, and utilising public resources in a manner that advances fiscal justice and inclusive development.She argued, “Weak parliamentary oversight contributes to inefficiencies in public investment management, delayed project implementation, cost overruns, and reduced returns on public investment. Strengthening Parliament’s technical capacity is therefore essential to ensure that public borrowing supports productive investments, enhances accountability, and contributes to sustainable development1.”Tumuhe also noted that meaningful public participation in fiscal policymaking remains constrained by limited access to information, inadequate technical capacity, and short consultation periods.She argued, “Although Parliament invites stakeholder submissions on proposed tax legislation, consultations are often conducted within very limited timeframes, making it difficult for citizens, civil society organisations, academia, and the private sector to undertake rigorous analysis and provide evidence-based recommendations. These challenges are particularly pronounced for stakeholders outside Kampala who face additional logistical barriers in participating effectively.”The post “Stop Limiting Tax Consultations to Kampala”: SEATINI Demands Regional Hearings on Tax Bills appeared first on Business Focus.