ARRESTED: Kakooza
A Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) staff member is facing several charges related to impersonation and forgery.
The suspect, identified as Isa Kakooza, previously worked as a fleet assistant at URA. He faces four charges: impersonation, obtaining money by false pretenses, abscondment of duty, solicitation, and forgery.
According to preliminary investigations, Kakooza allegedly posed as a URA Domestic Taxes officer while wearing a URA uniform and carrying a photocopy of a URA ID. He is said to have approached a taxpayer in Seeta and issued a tax assessment of Shs80,000, which he allegedly demanded be paid in cash.
The alleged offences were uncovered after the taxpayer became suspicious and called URA’s whistleblowing toll-free line to confirm whether a tax assessment can be made without a TIN number.
The matter was reported to the O/C Seeta Police Station as Kakooza allegedly tried to flee. Police arrested him, and he is now in custody pending court proceedings. URA says Kakooza had been on the run until yesterday and is linked to three other similar case files in Kayunga and Nabweru. The car he was reportedly using has also been impounded.
Kakooza in cuffs. The car (pictured) was being used to aid his crimes.
URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi reiterated the authority’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, urging the public to report any suspicious conduct and avoid individuals who claim they can influence tax processes or reduce assessments in exchange for money.
Kakooza is expected to appear in court tomorrow, July 10, to answer the charges.
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