Arrested: Timothy Segane
As part of URA’s concerted efforts to curb corruption and facilitate trade, a container leader named Timothy Segane was apprehended to answer several cases, including tax evasion, under-declaration of customs duties, and holding onto the imported merchandise of several traders.
In his statement, Assistant Commissioner Public and Corporate Affairs, Robert Kalumba, mentioned that container leaders are often behind containers being held for extended periods, thus disrupting business and causing a ripple effect that impacts countless businesses.
“Taxpayers often claim that URA is holding their goods. But these are the actions of unscrupulous container leaders like Timothy Segane,” Kalumba said. “We have been on the hunt for Segane for nearly a year after we received tips that he was frustrating importers who were unaware of his dealings.”
He noted that Segane’s company Timways Enterprises Uganda Ltd, has been behind the evasion of taxes amounting to hundreds of millions of shillings while stealing from traders.
“His accomplices, some of whom are URA staff, are also under investigation and will be brought to book,” Kalumba said.
Segane was denied bail and remanded to Murchison Bay Prison, Luzira.His case is one of many that URA is investigating to ensure reliable services are provided to clients while curbinsg revenue leakages.
CG Steps in
In May, the Commissioner General of the URA John Musinguzi stepped in to rescue traders from fraudulent actions by container leaders.
Several traders had narrated how companies collected their money, cleared goods from the port, and then, on arrival in Uganda, withheld the consignments for months, in some cases over six months, while falsely blaming URA for the delays.
During a meeting with the affected traders, Musinguzi sympathized with the victims and thanked them for speaking out, assuring them that action would be taken against those exploiting innocent traders.
URA CG John Musinguzi meeting traders in May.
“You have suffered enough at the hands of people who used our name to deceive you. The individuals and companies exploiting hardworking Ugandan traders by holding their goods and falsely blaming the Authority for delays will be held to account,” he said. He also urged other affected traders to come forward to the 16th Floor of URA Headquarters in Nakawa with supporting documents so their cases can also be handled quickly.
Kalumba said that Segane’s case is one of many that URA is investigating to ensure reliable services are provided to clients while curbing revenue leakages.
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