URA slows down its online transactions over internet unavailability

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has called for patience from taxpayers over disruption of its online system due to unreliable internet. 

"Dear Taxpayers, we apologise for any inconveniences this has caused. Our technical team is working around the clock to ensure continued availability of our services in the interim," the body said on its social media pages on Saturday.

"Our internet provider is experiencing challenges with their core network infrastructure since Friday 28, May," URA said, adding: "This has affected a number of online services especially for our clients who use the same service provider. 

As we continue to engage them to resolve this issue, we are working out alternative solutions to ensure continued services in the interim. We regret inconveniences caused."

URA is one of the Government's entities that are heavily dependent on reliable internet.

The entity generates billions of shillings on a monthly basis from taxes like VAT (Value Added Tax), withholding tax, PAYE (Pay As You Earn) using its online system.

Transactions such as filing returns, paying for services such as driving permit are also done online. As such a slow network translates into no work.

In January, following the shutdown of the Internet in the country, as the country went to the polls, many taxpayers asked for at least a week to be able to file their returns as they hadn't been able to access the system's online system.