Number-plate firms moved to URA
Jul 13, 2009
THE firms responsible for issuing vehicle number-plates have moved their operations to the Uganda Revenue Authority premises to avoid further duplication of the plates, MPs heard yesterday.
By Madinah Tebajjukira
THE firms responsible for issuing vehicle number-plates have moved their operations to the Uganda Revenue Authority premises to avoid further duplication of the plates, MPs heard yesterday.
Arnold Brooklyn and GM Tumpeco are the two companies contracted to issue vehicle number-plates in the country.
Appearing yesterday before a parliamentary committee on commissions, statutory and state enterprises, the tax body’s commissioner general, Allen Kagina, said the move would streamline the process and ease monitoring of the two firms.
“Letting these companies operate outside was the main loophole, which caused all these forgeries,†Kagina explained.
She added that the decision was taken in May after an internal audit discovered that fake number-plates had been issued.
“We wrote to them in May after the audit,†Kagina added.
However, she could not give the date on which the firms relocated.
More than 160 fake number-plates have been discovered by the tax authority in the investigation, which the body is currently undertaking.
The fake number-plates are believed to have been issued between August 2008 and February 2009.
The latest list of the fake number-plates was issued by Arnorld Brooklyn and a list of 100 vehicles not yet made public, was sent by GM Tumpeco.
The companies have 30 days to account for the anomity or face suspension and legal action.
The authotities suspect there are hundreds of motorcycles that also bear duplicate number-plates.
Kagina, who had appeared with her commissioners to answer queries in the Auditor General’s report from 2005 to 2008, said two of her staff were involved in the scam and had been charged with various offences related to tax evasion.
She said 400 vehicles have so for been impounded on suspicion of having fake number-plates.
Meanwhile, Kagina told the committee chaired by Ssebuliba Mutumba (DP) that the authority spends sh1.4b on fuel annually.
THE firms responsible for issuing vehicle number-plates have moved their operations to the Uganda Revenue Authority premises to avoid further duplication of the plates, MPs heard yesterday.
Arnold Brooklyn and GM Tumpeco are the two companies contracted to issue vehicle number-plates in the country.
Appearing yesterday before a parliamentary committee on commissions, statutory and state enterprises, the tax body’s commissioner general, Allen Kagina, said the move would streamline the process and ease monitoring of the two firms.
“Letting these companies operate outside was the main loophole, which caused all these forgeries,†Kagina explained.
She added that the decision was taken in May after an internal audit discovered that fake number-plates had been issued.
“We wrote to them in May after the audit,†Kagina added.
However, she could not give the date on which the firms relocated.
More than 160 fake number-plates have been discovered by the tax authority in the investigation, which the body is currently undertaking.
The fake number-plates are believed to have been issued between August 2008 and February 2009.
The latest list of the fake number-plates was issued by Arnorld Brooklyn and a list of 100 vehicles not yet made public, was sent by GM Tumpeco.
The companies have 30 days to account for the anomity or face suspension and legal action.
The authotities suspect there are hundreds of motorcycles that also bear duplicate number-plates.
Kagina, who had appeared with her commissioners to answer queries in the Auditor General’s report from 2005 to 2008, said two of her staff were involved in the scam and had been charged with various offences related to tax evasion.
She said 400 vehicles have so for been impounded on suspicion of having fake number-plates.
Meanwhile, Kagina told the committee chaired by Ssebuliba Mutumba (DP) that the authority spends sh1.4b on fuel annually.