‘URA Staff Makefalse Declarations’

Aug 08, 2002

THE Head of Uganda Revenue Authority’s (URA) Business Analysis and Revenue Support has said many URA staff make false declarations to conceal property received through illegitimate means.

By Milton OlupotTHE Head of Uganda Revenue Authority’s (URA) Business Analysis and Revenue Support has said many URA staff make false declarations to conceal property received through illegitimate means.Frank Kajwara, formerly head of URA Staff Monitoring Unit, told the commission of inquiry into alleged corruption in the tax body that people acquiring property illegitimately were so careful that there is no trace of evidence linking them to the properties.The commission, chaired by Lady Justice Julia Ssebutinde, is mandated to investigate allegations of corruption in the URA and specific allegations against individuals, among other things, who acquired significant wealth that cannot be shown to have been received from legitimate means.He told the commission that the exercise of the declaration of assets is a very difficult and frustrating one. The other commissioners are James Kahooza and Fawn Cousens.“My lord, I am not conceding defeat, but I have to emphasise that these people are so careful when doing their things, they register the property in different names, especially cars and houses. You can see one driving the car or see one in a posh house on the weekend, but cannot prove ownership.”“There is usually circumstantial evidence, which is not enough to prove ownership beyond reasonable doubt and can’t sustain a charge in court. It is the reason we in most cases do not want to waste time going to court, there is no sufficient proof,” he said.Ssebutinde however, disagreed with Kajwara, saying an investigator’s work is to dig beyond the ordinary. “Anybody would be a fool to register the ill-gotten wealth in their own names,” she said.“It is upon you the investigator to use your wisdom the catch them,” she added.Ends

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