Top TV, Radio closed over tax debt

By Samuel Balagadde

KAMPALA - The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has switched off Bwaise-based Top Radio and Top Television stations over tax arrears amounting to sh200m.

The stations, sharing a building, are a subsidiary to the Christian Life Church in Bwaise managed by Pastor Jackson Senyonga.

During the closure of the stations on Friday, Abdu Salaam Waiswa, URA's manager for debt collection, said the tax liability arose from audited books for both stations in 2011 and that negotiation on payment has been repeatedly breached.

Pastor Senyonga was not available for comment.

Waiswa said all the signed cheques during the negotiations had bounced and claimed there has been no communication.

"If Pastor Senyonga fails to pay the due taxes, we shall go ahead will criminal proceedings against him for issuing bounced cheques and later declare him bankrupt," said the URA offial.

Workers were forced out of the stations and the URA  put custom seals on the main entrance until  the taxes  that included  VAT, income tax and PAYE (Pay As you Earn) are cleared before  the closure of the financial year 2014/2015 which end on Tuesday June 30.

The closure of the two stations comes only days after the digital migration – a transition from analogue to digital broadcasting – took effect.
 

The staff were forced out of the building before being closed by URA officials. (Samuel Balagadde)