Jinja tax collectors using fake receipts

Sep 22, 2011

COLLECTION of taxes from vendors operating in a make-shift market, popularly known as Obonyo Market, in Jinja Central division has been stopped.

By Jackie Nambogga

COLLECTION of taxes from vendors operating in a make-shift market, popularly known as Obonyo Market, in Jinja Central division has been stopped.

Francis Barabanawe, the Jinja town clerk, announced the action during a meeting with the vendors at the Town Hall on Tuesday.

Barabanawe suspended the exercise after discovering that fake receipts were being used by yet-to-be identified Jinja council officials.

“All our tax receipts have a Jinja Municipal Council emblem on them,” he informed the angry vendors.

The vendors had earlier complained about unexplained taxes that the Jinja Municipal Council was charging them.

“The law empowers me to stop any illegal transaction done without consent of the authorities on behalf of council. Do not pay any more money until we have established the persons behind these dubious deals,” Barabanawe advised.

In a September 19 petition to the town clerk, the vendors had complained that Jinja council officials were collecting a lot of taxes from them, hurting their businesses.

Rashid Kalo, a dealer in general merchandise, displayed a sh10,000 receipt, for money the unidentified officials said was purportedly for power, water and cleaning the market.

Another trader, Prossy Nakitende, a second-hand shoe dealer, said she had also paid the officials sh10,000 for an identity card. Many other traders submitted similar documents.

Barabanawe directed his deputy Jofram Waidhuba and the Jinja Central division assistant town clerk, Joy Kasowole, to investigate the matter and give him a report in one week.

Muhammed Kezaala, the Jinja mayor, district council finance secretary Gladys Nyakajuya and George Izaale, the secretary for trade, industry and tourism attended the meeting.

Kezaala said the traders in Obonyo Market would be re-located to a site where the Jinja Central Market traders are, to pave way for rebuilding of the market.

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