Two Arrested for Impersonating URA Staff in Kayunga

Kayunga – Two individuals, identified as Kakooza Isa and Mafabi Achillis, have been arrested for impersonating staff of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

The suspects were apprehended in Kayunga while traveling in a Toyota Mark X (registration UAU 678U), allegedly posing as URA officials. Authorities report that they were issuing fraudulent Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) and conducting presumptive tax assessments using documents that did not match URA’s official records.

District Internal Security Officer (DISO) John Ssewanyana said the suspects were intercepted in Kitimbwa Town Council along Beale Road, about 30 kilometers from Kayunga Town Council. Police recovered documents bearing URA letterheads, including assessment forms resembling those used for official notifications to small businesses.

Robert Kalumba, Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs at URA, confirmed the arrests and noted that the suspects have been handed over to police for further investigation. “These cases of impersonation have been happening lately, but our teams on the ground are actively nipping them in the bud,” Kalumba said. “URA is putting up a fight on smuggling, corruption, and impersonations to close the gap on revenue leakages.”

He cited a similar incident last Saturday in Kamuli, where a truck was stopped by people pretending to be URA staff. The driver cleverly diverted to a petrol station under the pretense of needing repairs while verifying the operation’s legitimacy with URA Kamuli office. Upon confirmation that there was no sanctioned operation, URA officials arrived and the imposters fled the scene.

Kalumba called for vigilance among taxpayers, urging them to report any suspicious individuals claiming to be URA staff. “If in doubt, always confirm with URA before complying with any demands,” he advised.