By Kabahweza Kamugisha Allan
Michael Kibwika, the Busia Resident District Commissioner has urged traders in the district to desist from smuggling, which he says is affecting Uganda’s revenue collections.
Speaking at a tax baraza on Cross Border at the Busia One Stop Border Post, Kibwika noted that no country in the world has developed without its citizens paying taxes.
“Taxes did not start with this government. They are immemorial and biblical. It is your duty to pay taxes for national development,” said Kibwika.
The RDC urged business leaders to assist in the fight against smuggling and underlined that border control is a collective responsibility. To dissuade the smugglers from smuggling, he instructed the URA enforcement team to invite them to a roundtable discussion.
Ogwal Nelson Robert, the Region Manager Eastern at URA, urged traders in Busia to use gazetted border points to avoid the high cost of smuggling.
“Use gazetted points to bring in your goods and pay the right taxes. Smuggling is costly because you pay taxes and penalties, which hurt your businesses,” said Ogwal.
Paul Karatunga, the Supervisor of Enforcement, issued a call to action, urging business leaders to work with URA to stop the vice by reporting individuals who engage in smuggling.
“I urge you to be whistle-blowers in the fight against smuggling because it affects you and the economy negatively. Factories that employ Ugandans are collapsing due to smuggling. Let us partner to end smuggling,” said Karatunga.
Meanwhile, Kenyatta Patrick Wanjala, the chairperson of the Busia business community, asked government to lower taxes, which he said are forcing people into vice.
Busia is one of Uganda’s busiest border districts, with an average of 500 trucks crossing through the border point daily.
However, the vice of smuggling poses a hurdle to businesses in the district, as smugglers use the porous borders to smuggle in goods from neighboring Kenya.
To combat the vice, URA has stepped up intelligence-led targeted operations at the porous borders in addition to consolidation centers.
