President Yoweri K Museveni has strongly warned ministries, most especially the Ministry of Finance, to desist from levying useless taxes on investors who are willing to set up processing and manufacturing factories in Uganda.

He said this during the official launch of the new Harris International limited processing plant in Tuula, Kawempe division, in Kampala.

The President urged the ministries not to overtax investors, stating that they help to put up processing plants that will help Uganda process its agricultural products like fruits, dairy products, beef, and coffee, to mention but a few.

“We don’t need to disturb our manufacturers with direct taxes; let them create jobs and employment, and then we shall get taxes indirectly. If someone is employing 2000 people, please do not disturb them because we shall get these taxes from these employees who like going to the bar through consumer taxes,” Museveni said.

The president also called upon the Lebanese investors in Uganda to invite more of their nationals to invest in Uganda, stating that they would not be heavily taxed.

“If anybody tries to disturb you, they will see what I look like,” Museveni warned.

The chairperson of Harris International, Yasser Ahmed Kaseem, appreciated the president for always supporting them in their investments and also assured him of their continued relationship and development in Uganda through tax returns.

“We promised in 2017 that we would make tax returns of UGX150 billion by 2023, but in 2022, we fulfilled the promise before the stipulated time,” Kaseem said.

According to Kaseem, Harris International is a USD100 million investment that employs 7,000 workers, both directly and indirectly.

Harris International Limited is a manufacturer of food and beverage products under the brand name Riham.