By Kabahweza Kamugisha Allan, and Photography by Kyambadde Gabriel
In a bid to encourage compliance and usage of Digital Tax Stamps, Uganda Revenue Authority has beefed up operations against non-compliant traders and manufacturers.
The most recent culprit is Ba Mulemezi a trading store in Bukomansimbi Town Council whose owner was assessed tax worth UGX 1.1m after he was found selling unstamped kombuchas. This was during the Tujenge tax education drive in Masaka sub-region.
Following the fine, Umar Mbuga the URA Masaka station head advised the owners of the store to contact their suppliers to provide digital stamps or have their products confiscated.
He educated traders in the area on products gazetted to bear stamps including beer, soda, bottled water, sugar among others urging them to always check before buying. Mbuga further advised that a person found with gazetted products without digital stamps faces a penalty and their goods are seized.
According to Robert Amanya, the Manager DTS enforcement, kombuchas were added to the list of products gazetted to bear digital tax stamps on 1st May 2022.
Currently, 13 products are gazetted to bear digital tax stamps including; fermented beverages, alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages fruit, vegetable juice among others.
