URA closes sports betting company
Jun 15, 2014
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has closed the head offices of Gaming International, a sports betting company, on Nalubwama Arcade over tax arrears.
By Samuel Balagadde
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has closed the head offices of Gaming International, a sports betting company, on Nalubwama Arcade over tax arrears.
The arrears had accumulated to sh360m of which the directors only deposited sh100m and failed to adhere to the memorandum of understating with URA to meet the monthly payments.
Abdu Salaam Waiswa, URA’s manager for debt collection, while closing the company said its directors have not been paying taxes despite several reminders and negotiations.
He said tax arrears arose from income tax and Pay As You Earn deductions for the employees from the company’s 113 branches across the country.
“We will take further action against this company, if they fail to respond in time. We have only closed its head in Kampala, but its branches also risk closure, if they do not respond in time,” Waiswa warned.
URA also closed several companies belonging to city tycoon, Haji Habib Kajimu, with offices on Martin Road in Kampala for tax arrears worth sh360.
The companies include Habib Oil, Landmark Properties and Habib Kajimu Investments.
“We are closing the financial year with over sh100b in tax arrears. We will be forced to publish a shame-list for tax defaulters as an intervention to force taxpayers to comply,” said Waiswa.
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