Gulu trader to pay sh31m tax instead of sh1b levied by URA

GULU - A renowned Gulu City trader, Donald Lukwiya, commonly known with his business name as ‘Mak-kweri Yenyo kwo Company Limited on Friday was ordered by the Tax Appeals Tribunal Court to pay sh31m instead of 1b earlier on levied by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) since 2022.

The Tribunal Court, chaired by Crystal Kabajwara, flanked by two members,  Kabakamba Labwoni Masiko and Proscovia Rebecca Nambi, heard that the complainant, Lukwiya, had been overtaxed both as an individual and as a business entity.

It was ruled that Lukwiya would pay up the sh31m in time to avoid tax interest that might accumulate from the date.

Lukwiya, in the Tax Appeals Tribunal case number is GUL008/2022, Lukwiya Donald Versus URA, was represented in the court by Steward Ouma, as his Tax Agent or Consultant to Lukwiya (Mak-Kwerri), and his lawyer, Samuel Openy of Awino Advocates in Gulu City.

Simon Peter Orishaba represented the URA.

The court heard that Lukwiya, a potential businessperson running many rentals in Gulu, was taxed double, each tax ranging over sh500m each as both an individual and a business entity kwon as ‘Mak-kweri Yenyo kwo Company Limited. 

Court heard that Mak-kweri business has, since 2018, been paying Rental tax with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) on behalf of the applicant.

Lukwiya said he was happy with the court ruling that has helped the case to come to its conclusion, although it has not been easy.

He blamed URA for having encouraged double taxation against him and not detecting the problem easily enough.

“I also encourage other business people and firms who might suffer similarly to me not to keep quiet and suffer silently. Come up with all the necessary auditing evidence that can support and prove your cases in court or the Tax Appeals Tribunal, like this one. I also ask the URA not to overtax business people or firms and companies, the way my case has been proved by the court that I was double taxed by URA”, said Lukwiya.

Lukwiya appealed to Uganda's tax collector, URA, to act professionally and charge the business owners appropriately.

In an interview about their investigations, Masiko revealed that according to court records, Lukwiya (Mak-Kweri) has several businesses, including rentals with several prime tenants in Gulu City and around the region, properties, among other businesses that make him a potential and vibrant businessman, not only in the City, but also in the Acholi region.

The other case concluded during the same court sitting on Friday was case number GUL176/2022 involving Bebwine Co Ltd Versus URA that had also come up for hearing. 

The case was amicably concluded after the court adopted the affidavit of consent settlement order between the two parties that revised the huge taxation from sh212, 518, 764m that was first adjusted to sh107,530,408 and later agreed to pay sh13,840,494 m as the new Applicant’s income tax assessment as revised from 2022 to 2023.

Seven other cases that were adjourned to December for further hearing include that of Arua case number RU002/2024-Man Engineering Limited Versus URA, GUL001/2025-Herbatu Gales Versus URA, GUL002/2025-Amach Modern Secondary School Ltd versus URA and GUL006/2021-Otada Construction Co Ltd versus URA. 

Others were GUL001/2024 case Northern Energy Co Ltd versus URA and GUL263/2024-Cycle Connect versus URA, respectively.