Rukungiri Municipality Landlords and Land Ladies Association has demanded an urgent review of what it calls unfair and possibly illegal property rates, warning that aggressive enforcement is harming businesses and causing emotional distress among property owners.
The demands were issued today during a press conference held at Virunga Gardens, Kafunjo Cell, Eastern Division, Rukungiri Municipality. The meeting was led by Tweyambe Robert Darious Baguma, Chairperson of the Association and Director of Virunga Gardens.
Baguma said that the municipality’s recent enforcement actions tied to significantly increased property rates. He noted that demand notices and enforcement measures appear to be based on valuations that are not verified and not publicly available emphasizing that the last published valuation basis was in 2008, reported in Orumuri newspaper, when rates were negotiated and reduced to 3% after taxpayer complaints and consultations.
He outlined several specific concerns raised by members. These include the absence of a valid and published valuation list, failure to publish new notice rates, and what the association describes as exorbitant and unfair rates. The association also claims there has been non-compliance with property tax fund provisions, alongside improper collection methods and a lack of transparency.
A major point of grievance, Baguma said, since November 2011, the association and rate payers have not received an accountability report detailing collections and expenditures. He stressed that rate payers have not been involved or facilitated to oversee service delivery as required under Section 36(4).
According to Baguma, the enforcement has already produced negative impacts, including business closures, financial losses, and emotional distress, which he said could deter further development in the municipality.
In response, the association issued a set of demands to be addressed within 14 days. These include immediate suspension of enforcement actions and review of current charges; processing payments according to the previous 2024/2025 rate basis; submission of a full accountability report on collections and expenditures since 2011; inclusion of the association in overseeing utilization of funds and service delivery; and refund of over-collected amounts with waiver of interests.
Baguma said the association remains willing to pay property rates lawfully assessed, but warned that failure to respond substantively within the given timeframe may force them to seek legal remedies, including court actions for declarations, injunctions, and refunds.
