By Markson Omagor
(SPECIAL REPORTS)
Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has confirmed that Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi a.k.a Bobi Wine’s Land Cruiser is an armored vehicle.
The confirmation is contained in yesterday’s letter dated 22nd April 23, 2021, authored by the URA Commissioner Customs Department, Abel Kagumire and addressed to Kyagulanyi’s Lawyers, Wameli & Co. Advocates.
“Following the re-examination of your client’s motor vehicle, Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Reg. No. UBJ 667F; it was confirmed that the Unit was armored,” the letter written by Kagumire reads in part.
The letter was in response to an earlier communication by Bobi Wine’s lawyers dated 20th April, 2021 asking URA to release the vehicle and hand it back to their client.
URA has rejected the demand insisting that the original evaluation of the vehicle on the basis that it was a normal vehicle was erroneous.
“It was also established that the declaration made vide Customs reference UGCWH C 54 of 12th February 2021 did bare falsehoods of clearing it as a normal vehicle,” the letter reads.
Kagumire further gives details of the ballistic protection.
“The details of Ballistic protection were confirmed as 90 mm for the window upper plate glass and 6 mm for the bottom Hull.”
URA has now slapped a new tax on the vehicle as 166,700 dollars which is equivalent to Shs337,698,776 which the body wants paid before the vehicle can be released.
“Please advise your client to liaise with the office of the Assistant Commissioner Enforcement who by copy hereof is requested to facilitate payment of due taxes and release of your client’s vehicle accordingly,” Kagumire advised.
Background
At the time of clearing the vehicle, URA valued it at Shs157,925,502 attracting a tax of Shs88,000,000 which Kyagulanyi paid before word moved around that the vehicle was actually armored.
The new tax slapped means Bobi Wine has to pay the difference between Shs337,698,776 and the Shs88,000,000 which he had paid.
According to URA, the vehicle entered Uganda from Kenya through Busia border on November 5, 2020, registered under licence plates KCY550X logbook number K3323207K belonging to Mr Fauz Khalid, a Kenyan. It was issued a certificate for temporary import.
The Uganda customs and excise cargo receipt indicates that the car was handed over to Yuasa by one Marion Alukudo in November 2020.
It is not clear under what condition the car was released to Yuasa and what role they had in its importation.
