MPs pass Army Shop bill

Military and police personnel will, before long, get a variety of essential goods at a duty free cost, after the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday passed the Armed Forces Shop (AFOS) bill.AFOS will help beneficiaries purchase certain items—which will be determined by a subsequent legislation--on duty free items, meaning that they will come cheaply to the officers.The items will include important household items like kitchenware and scholastic materials for school children.The approval of the bill comes after the chamber of deputies accepted an amendment by the Senate allowing the shop to have branches elsewhere in the country, upon approval by the Board of Directors, instead of the Prime Minister’s Order.Presenting the findings by a joint Chamber of Deputies-Senatorial committee, MP Gonzague Rwigema, told the House that they realized that there would be no harm if authorization was given by the Board of Directors.“Whether the approval of branches elsewhere is done by the Prime Minister’s Order or whether it is by the Board of Directors, we realized that neither would be illegal, but we focused more on what would make things easier for them.” Rwigema said.Article 5 [Tax and duties exemption] states that AFOS shall be exempted from paying taxes and duties for it to achieve its mission.An order by the minister in charge of tax and duties shall determine a list of duty free goods.When Defence Minister, James Kabarebe, initially tabled the bill before the House, on May 22, he allayed MPs’ fears that the project may be abused as the latter wondered how proper controls would be set up to deter possible fraud.Kabarebe explained that while preparing the AFOS project, the possibility of ‘leakages’ was given enough attention and a proofing mechanism considered.Once established, the AFOS will use information system software, membership cards, quota systems, and other mechanisms, to limit such fraudulent tendencies. Since the AFOS will draw its capital from the national budget, it will be audited by the Office of the Auditor General, annually, or whenever deemed necessary.

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MPs pass Army Shop bill