By Augustine Mumbere,
Mr. Joel Kuka Mudumi, the Uganda Revenue Authority’s Regional Manager, has called for collaborated efforts against smuggling, he said was frustrating government plans to collect enough taxes to serve Ugandans.
In his report to Lt. Maate Magwara, the Kasese Deputy RDC in charge of Bukonzo County during a stakeholders and business community meeting held at Mpondwe One-stop Border Post in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha town council in Kasese district on Tuesday, Mr. Mudumi was also concerned that whereas his office was ready to closely work with the tax payers, they resort to smuggling he said was costly and a frustration to business. Mr. Mudumi speaking……
In response, Lt. Magwara largely blamed smuggling to those he called compromised law enforcement officers and URA staff attached to the tax collection body who work to satisfy their individual interests.
Lt. Magwara speaking……
Giving their concerns earlier, Mr. Pandasi Bwambale, a local resident, Ms Gloria Masika, the chairperson for Mpondwe women cross border group and Mr. Neckodemus Baluku Kathika, the chairperson clearing agents in Mpondwe, partly attributed the increasing cases of smuggling to high taxes that target home products they asked the URA not to tax.
Mr. Pandasi, Ms. Masika and Mr. Katika speaking…….
In his report, Mr. Selevest Mapoze, the area local council three chairperson, asked the tax body to be accountable to Ugandans by being at the forefront of guiding traders on how to boost business. END