BY BARRISTER PETER MAGOMU MASHATE
During a retreat at Kyankwanzi in July 2024, President Yoweri Museveni complained of limited taxes that were being collected by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). The Head of State went on to say that not only does URA collect limited taxes, but also its officers and staff steal even the little they collect.
“First of all, there is a lot of under-collection of taxes, but also there is massive stealing of what is collected. Now you can imagine how much we could do if we plug both under-collection and the stealing,” he said during a Ministers and PSs retreat at Kyankwanzi.
Feeling disgusted, he formulated a special desk within State House for Revenue Intelligence sharing, naming Mr David Kalemera as it’s pioneer head, but working alongside other agencies like the IGG and SHACU.
Since 2024, the fight against corruption in URA has raged on, leaving several of its officers going behind bars and some being interdicted. According to URA, as reported in the Daily Monitor, another officer, Mr Geoffrey Ssozi, the URA External Operations Manager in charge of Dar-el-Salaam Customs, was also arrested on Thursday last week. URA Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs Mr Robert Kalumba is quoted as confirming that the embattled officer was caught red-handed soliciting a bribe worth USD 60000 (UGX 220 Million) from an investor whom the arrested officer Ssozi later revealed to be Simbaland!
Mr Ssozi’s arrest adds to a list of officers arrested since the President expressed his dissatisfaction.
Without delving into the merits of alleged Ssozi’s case (since it is still under investigation), my concern is on whether the URA Commissioner General will respond by way of widening the scope of investigation to unearth more gaps within the tax body. This is clearly in national interest.
By widening the investigation, the CG and the country at large will be in position to know whether the frequent arrests of URA officers orchestrated by tax payers/whistle blowers is not a new trick by possible tax evaders to intimidate, stifle, and/or divert any ongoing internal audits against them.
On this particular note, I would urge the CG to shift focus to the taxpayer (Simbaland) as mentioned by Ssozi while investigations against him also continue.
Of particular interest is the alleged bribe of UGX 220 million. This is not a small amount for anyone to pay without a big interest. Remember, according to URA’s explanation, the initial bribe demand by Ssozi was USD 100, 000 or UGX 380 million. The question therefore is: What was the purpose of this huge payment?
Secondly, if there was a tax audit against the taxpayer as URA explains, how much is involved and over what period?
Thirdly, what is the nature and magnitude of taxes owed to URA to warrant the taxpayer to part with a bribe worth USD 100,000?
Fourthly, since Ssozi’s duty station is miles away in Dar-el-Salaam, what influence did he have on the audit team to drop the tax audit in relation to Simbaland? These and many more questions would help the CG to widen the net and answer Ugandans who are anxious in the light of the warning by H.E the President.
Otherwise, if we restrict the investigation to only the Ssozi alleged transgressions, we risk falling into a possible diversion and losing a bigger picture of the scope of tax evasion.
The CG and his team should humbly use this opportunity to ask the taxpayer for his books of accounts.
To contextualize this, usually, big importers, exporters/consolidators (world-over), make illegal remittances back to their countries without a Remittance License(s) or even paying the required taxes. Some do this over a period of years, may be 5, or 10 or more.
This is what the CG and his team should be interested in because it is a green area that taxpayers exploit.
For that matter, it is my humble prayer that the investigation gets widened to cover the possibility of a diversion being created.
However, what is not in doubt is the fact that the fight against corruption of whatever form in this “KISANJA NO MORE SLEEP”, is well and truly underway and unstoppable as spearheaded by Balaam Barugahara, Justine Nameere and David Kalemera.
URA now has the chance to prove tax equality and patriotism, rights and attributes which are non-negotiable. With a week having passed now since the news of Ssozi’s arrest, the public on the other hand, is anxiously waiting for his arraignment before court of law for justice to prevail.
THE WRITER IS; FORMERLY LONDON BASED BARRISTER PETER MAGOMU MASHATE AN ADMINISTRATIVE, CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS BARRISTER-AT-LAW OF THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF LINCOLN’S INN OF COURT LONDON UNITED KINGDOM.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at Submit an Article