By: Kyeyune Ali
Uganda Revenue Authority revealed that they have recovered 57 billion shillings in space of six months in the year of 2022.
East African Revenue Authorities Commissioners of Tax Investigations embarked on new strategies to eliminate Tax fraud in the region.
All Tax investigation commissioners from East African community countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Burundi , Republic of Rwanda and South Sudan have gathered in Uganda Kampala at Mestil hotel Nsambya for 2 days annual meeting to draw more strategies and way forward to curb the challenge of tax frauds across the East African community.
The Commissioner Tax investigations Department at Uganda Revenue Authority,Denis Kugonza Kateeba said that ” elimination of tax fraud has been difficult because tax investigation commissioners in every country has been working on its own but now they have decided to work together to make sure each business is captured after paying tax then details sent to every authority of EAC for accountability.”
Kugonza adds that they are going to give capacity building to all new members such that tax crime is handled uniformly and it is needed going to help increase on tax collection to every member state.
He has disclosed that this collaboration is going to avoid business double taxation if they exchange information from one country to another and it will be critical in reduction of smuggling across east African community.
“So people use all these kind of techniques in Uganda, many of goods that are usually followed in smuggling or smugglers love to engage in. We have cigarettes. That’s a very big task especially in the areas of northern Uganda particularly on the boarder of South Sudan , and areas bordering DRC,.”
“We have textile and garments, we have cooking oil, we have rice, we have spare parts. So in this regard among east African community we should seat on the round table in order east African region to be on the same page in terms of development “.
He has also challenged them to work hand in hand with security and legal teams in there respectively countries such that perpetrators are brought to book.
URA assistant commissioner and public corporate affairs Mr Ibrahim K Bbossa while addressing the journalists in Nsambya at Mestil hotel during the official opening of the two day meeting of East African Revenue Authorities Commissioners of Tax Investigations , said that a lot of tax is lost through smuggling ,forgery among others but much efforts has been put in place to ensure all that is eliminated that is why towards the end of 2022, URA managed to save over 57 billions Ugandan shillings
However Bossa has revealed that through the use of technology, security among others, URA is determined to collect ugx 25 trillion in FY 2023/2024 although no new laws have been put to help in collecting taxes
Mr lbrahim K. Bbossa said that ” We take an example if you look at a fuel tanker of 39,000 litres, it pays 55 million Uganda shillings in terms of taxes. In South Sudan it costs only 5 million shillings. So that means somebody will declare a fuel as good in transit and Take it to South Sudan only take 5 million and she wasn’t called round tripping and They bring that back into the country in jerrycans using border border and bicycles. “