By Mulengera Reporters
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has intensified efforts to promote tax compliance by conducting a Digital Tax Stamps (DTS) sensitization drive in Busia and Tororo.
The training, held on March 13th, aimed at educating traders on the installation and use of the KAKASA DTS App, attracted a diverse group of business owners eager to understand the system and its benefits.
The URA team, led by Samuel Emeru Ebyau from the Domestic Taxes Department, took traders through the functionalities of the DTS App, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that all gazetted excisable goods bear Digital Tax Stamps. He urged attendees to spread the knowledge to fellow traders who were unable to attend, fostering widespread adoption of the system.
During the session, traders were reminded that Digital Tax Stamps, introduced in 2019, serve a dual purpose, as they authenticate products and enable URA to track tax payments on excisable goods.
Additionally, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) relies on the same stamps to verify product conformity to safety and quality standards.
Emeru issued a stern warning against dealing in unstamped goods, explaining that any product found without a Digital Tax Stamp is deemed illegal or smuggled.
“Unstamped gazetted products are not allowed on the market, and non-adherence to this attracts a penalty of UGX 50 million. Traders must ensure they follow the process, generate a PRN, make payment, collect the stamps from SICPA (U) Ltd, and apply them to the products before sale,” he cautioned.
Further reinforcing the compliance message, Wilson Katumba, the URA Busia Station Head, advised traders to only stock products that bear Ugandan Digital Tax Stamps and hold their suppliers accountable.
“Your role as a trader is to engage the manufacturer and ensure that Ugandan Digital Tax Stamps are applied at the designated points along the value chain,” Katumba emphasized.
The engagement also shed light on URA’s enforcement measures against non-compliance, stressing that adherence to DTS regulations protects businesses from financial penalties and trade disruptions.
URA remains committed to supporting traders through continuous sensitization and digital solutions that simplify tax compliance.
Through initiatives like this, the tax authority continues to champion a transparent and fair tax system, reinforcing its mission of ‘Developing Uganda Together.’ (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
