President Museveni has ordered the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to immediately release Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, aka Bobi Wine’s armored car.
A few weeks after the January elections, Bobi Wine unveiled his car after which URA came out and said the Toyota Land Cruiser UBJ 667F was declared to customs as an ordinary vehicle and not an armored one, and therefore, less taxes were paid for it.
In a letter dated 7th June 2021 from the tax body to Bobi Wine’s lawyers of Wameli and Co. Advocates, it said they received a directive from the President to release the car.
“This is to further inform you that we have received a directive from His Excellency The President of the Republic of Uganda to the effect that Uganda Revenue Authority should release your client’s motor vehicle immediately,” reads part of the letter.
However, URA said the outstanding tax is still due and payable and they will communicate it after review of the appeal from Bobi Wine’s lawyers.
“The declaration previously made for this unit vide customs entry UGCWH C 54 of 12th February, 2021 with a value of an ordinary land cruiser. Following re verification of the motor vehicle, it was confirmed that the motor vehicle was armored and given the additional features, the value was adjusted based on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT),” URA said in a letter.
The letter adds; “Alternative method of valuation for used motor vehicles were relied on to appraise a customs value of USD 166,700 against which the tax of UGX 337,698,776.25 was derived. Your client had paid UGX 88,612,027 leaving an outstanding balance of UGX 249,086,749.25. However your client’s application for review of the assessment has been received and the same will be considered in accordance with the law.”
“In light of the above, please liaise with the Commissioner Customs who by copy hereof is requested to facilitate t provisional release of your client’s vehicle immediately. However, please note that the outstanding tax is still due and payable. The final amount will be communicated to your client in due course after review of the appeal.”
