By Spy Uganda Reporter
Kampala: From any part of the country, if you’re a tenant and think you will use the auspice of the Codiv19 lockdown to default rent on your Landlord, better find another excuse, because President Yoweri Museveni has only advised them not to forfeit their rental fees but to re-schedule payment plan with their tenants. So this is a problem extended, not solved!
The President made the remarks on Monday evening during his 13th national address on Covid-19 pandemic in which he asked landlords to allow the tenants pay the monthly rental fees after the lockdown, but was hesitant to order them to write them off.
Although tenants have been asking the President to waive off rental arrears since March, landlords yesterday declined the request, arguing that they have outstanding loans, utility bills and other obligations too just like their tenants. Remember Gov’t refused to waive off any type of taxes, including those on utility bills like service charges, VAT among others since the lockdown.
The landlords also said many of them had paid property tax and ground rent to government which must be recovered from their tenants.
“If you want us to forget about rental fees, then push Gov’t to waive off taxes. We’re still paying all the taxes as if everything is normal, this Gov’t is as if they are so disconnected from realities on ground,” one landlord told Spy Uganda reporter on phone on wed.
Mr Drake Lubega, a businessman and landlord, said most of the landlords acquire loans to construct arcades. “I entirely agree with the President on giving tenants a grace period to clear their outstanding rental dues as long as tenants are aware of their outstanding rental arrears. This Lockdown has not only affected tenants but also other people including landlords. Majority of us rely on rental fees to service bank loans which we borrowed to set up arcades.” Lubega said.
Meanwhile, city traders especially, have raised fears that the arrears might accumulate if the lock down is not lifted soon to allow them open shops and make sales which would be used to clear the debts.
