By Mulengera Reporters
Eastern Uganda – March 2025 – As part of its ongoing compliance drive, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has extended its Digital Tracking Solution (DTS) awareness campaign to Eastern Uganda, engaging manufacturers and traders on the correct usage and placement of digital tax stamps.
The one-week training, which covered Moroto, Mbale, Soroti, and Iganga, focused on educating taxpayers on how to procure, affix, and verify digital tax stamps to ensure compliance and curb tax evasion.
DTS specialist Emmanuel Mboki demonstrated how traders can identify fake stamps, emphasizing the distinct stamp formats for different products. He cautioned participants in Moroto to be vigilant, explaining that round stamps are strictly for beer, soda, and water, while long rectangular stamps are designated for spirits and wines.
Mboki urged traders to verify product authenticity before stocking, highlighting that both manufacturers and retailers are accountable under the law. He guided them on how to use the stamp validator and the KAKASA app to check stamp authenticity.
The training also addressed concerns from traders about URA’s enforcement on unstamped products, with some calling for a stricter crackdown on non-compliant manufacturers rather than retail shops. Mboki encouraged them to support URA’s compliance efforts by reporting suppliers who evade stamping regulations.
During the sensitization, Lepi Stanley, proprietor of Valley Wine in Soroti, requested URA to decentralize stamp distribution, noting that acquiring them from SICPA offices in Kampala incurs high costs, which are non-allowable deductions for businesses.
Manufacturers also raised concerns about the cost of digital tax stamps, urging URA to consider revising pricing to ease the compliance burden.
Meanwhile, Opio Kenneth, Supervisor of Bengel Supermarket in Moroto, acknowledged that he had not been keen on stocking stamped products but appreciated the sensitization. He admitted that he now understands which products require stamps and the penalties for non-compliance.
URA’s DTS sensitization efforts are part of a broader campaign to enhance tax compliance, combat counterfeiting, and create a fair business environment. By equipping businesses with the knowledge and tools to comply with digital tax stamp regulations, URA is reinforcing its commitment to transparency and fair taxation in Uganda’s growing economy. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
