Uganda slaps $93,000 more tax on Bobi Wine’s bullet-proof vehicle

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Uganda slaps $93,000 more tax on Bobi Wine’s bullet-proof vehicle

9:36 CAT | 26 Apr 2021

The bullet-proof car now owned by Uganda's opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine. [photo: daily Monitor / NMG]

The vehicle was donated to Bobi Wine by his supporters in the diaspora shortly after the January 14 polls.

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has asked former opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, to pay Ush337 million (about $93,420) in taxes for his bullet-proof vehicle.

The taxman said it reassessed the armoured car which had initially attracted less tax having been considered as an ordinary motor.

“Following the re-examination of your client’s motor vehicle, Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Reg. No. UBJ 667 F, it was confirmed that the unit was armoured. The details of ballistic protection were confirmed as 90 mm for the window upper plate glass and 6 mm for the bottom hull,” reads in part URA’s letter to Bobi Wine’s lawyers at Wameli & Co. Advocates.

The letter further reads: “It was also established that the declaration made vide Customs reference UGCWH C 54 of February 12, 2021, did bare falsehoods of clearing it as a normal vehicle yet it was armoured contrary to Sections 203 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004.”

The April 22, 2021 letter was signed off by Abel Kagumire, the commissioner for the Customs Department.

URA said the new tax is based upon establishing that Bobi Wine’s car is bullet-proof and costs $166,700 (more than Ush600m).

“Customs has re-evaluated the motor vehicle using alternative methods of valuation and appraised a customs value of $166,700 with tax payable of Ush337,698,776. Please advise your client (Bobi) 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,” said Mr Kagumire in the letter.

The same vehicle had initially been valued at Ush157m ($43,520).

Early last month, Bobi petitioned the High Court in Kampala, seeking to block URA from recalling his car to be subjected to fresh tax assessment. However, Justice Emmanuel Baguma on April 6 dismissed the application.

The vehicle was donated to Bobi Wine by his supporters in the diaspora shortly after the January 14 polls.

Source: Daily Monitor / The East African