URA Suspends 3 On 20b/- Scam

By Yunusu AbbeyTHREE Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officials have been suspended indefinitely for allegedly colluding with importers to under-declare goods and evade taxes.Robert Karemire, head of document check, Immaculate Lugolobi, a principal revenue officer, Long Room and Susan Kafumbe Mukasa were interdicted on Friday.Sources said URA lost about sh20b in tax evasion by five firms (names withheld) which the officials handled between 1998 and 2002.Top URA officials were unavailable for comment but a commissioner, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the suspensions “The Commissioner-General, (Annebrit Aslund), effected the suspensions after a probe discovered that the three officials had caused URA gross financial loss,” he said.“A joint team comprising State House personnel, the Police and URA staff carried out the probe.“The three officials were found to have connived with the five companies to under-declare goods and evade taxes,” a source said.The firms had mainly been importing electronics and textiles, rated as “high tax value goods.” “But when company documents and computers were checked, we discovered they were paying about a third compared to what other importers pay in taxes,” said the source.“When we mounted abrupt searches in the homes of those Asian businessmen in Muyenga, Kansanga and Buganda Road, we got a lot of information in their computers,” he said.“The computers contained even the bribes paid to URA staff. For instance, about sh1.5m was paid as a bribe per container handled,” he added. He said since 1998, the officials had persistently handled all the consignments the five firms imported.“We have sufficient evidence incriminating the three. They will be taken to court and charged,” he said.It is unclear what action will be taken against the importers who evaded taxes through under-declaration.Ends