Top Radio and TV re-opened

By Samuel Balagadde

UGANDA Revenue Authority (URA) has removed the custom seals from Bwaise based Top Radio and Top Television after being switched off on Friday over tax liability of sh200m.

The two stations that are a subsidiary of Christian Life Church managed Pastor Jackson Senyonga were re-opened after a cash deposit of sh75m and on condition that even on Monday they deposit another sum.

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

Pastor Senyonga was not available for comment about the tax liability and his position on the matter.

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

"If Pastor Senyonga had failed to pay the due taxes we would go ahead and open criminal proceedings against him for issuing bounced cheques and later declare him bankrupt," said Waiswa.

Workers were forced out of the stations and URA put custom seals on the main entrance until the taxes that included VAT, income tax and Pay As You Earn were cleared before the closure of the financial year 2014/2015 which is ends on Tuesday 30th June.

The operation to crack down on tax defaulters as URA summarises the financial years also on Friday left over 30 shops on Energy Centre closed with each having a tax liability ranging from Sh2m and Sh4m

Elvis Sekyanzi of Silk Events in Bugolobi on the same day also survived closure over Sh15m tax liability that was swiftly cleared.