Bobi Wine’s Armored car was reportedly exonerated from paying sh337 million while Pick-ups are still held

August 4, 2021 TheDrone

By Angela Nyakuni

In Uganda anything can happen depending on which side of the bench you are sitting on. It is only God that will help, otherwise there is no appeal. Hon Ruth Aceng says several Pick -Up Trucks are being held by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) for demurrage and tax fees, yet Bobi Wine’s armored car was cleared without paying taxes.

If the authorities could flout the law and write to URA directing it to release Bobi Wine’s car without paying its due taxes of sh337 million, how come they can’t write to the same URA to release the double cabins bought with people’s contributions for the government to fight Covid-19?

‘An individual’s private armoured car is exonerated from paying taxes while cars we bought for the government to save Ugandans are held and the president is quiet! Doesn’t this clearly show how BW is more of an important asset to M7 than Ugandans?” asks Eric Sabiiti, a political analyst.

URA handed back Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine’s bulletproof car in June, 2021 following a presidential directive.

The tax body reportedly impounded the vehicle in April after the High court cleared the tax body to re-inspect and reassess its value. After re-examination, URA slapped new taxes of sh337 million about $93,420 on the Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Reg. No. UBJ 667F after confirming that it was indeed bulletproof.

In a June 7 letter to Kyagulanyi’s lawyers led by Anthony Wameli, the URA commissioner general John Musinguzi Rujoki, said that they had received instructions from the president to return the vehicle to the owner immediately.

“This is to inform you that we have received a directive from His Excellency the President of Uganda to effect that Uganda Revenue Authority should release your client’s motor vehicle immediately,” the letter from URA reads.

Adding that, “In the light of the above, please liaise with the commissioner customs who by copy hereof is requested to facilitate provisional release of your client’s vehicle immediately.”

Bobi Wine’s bullet-proof

However, Rujoki notes, “the outstanding tax is still due and payable. The final amount will be communicated to your client in due course after the review of the proposal”.

Shortly after receiving the vehicle at his home in Magere Kasangati in Wakiso district, Kyagulanyi described Museveni’s directive to URA as a publicity stunt.

“I first saw a letter that. Museveni had directed that my car be given back. That is a gimmick to be used as a string against me,” Kyagulanyi said.

Uganda’s opposition and the government are the same and one. Only the chosen few will understand the game being played here. Otherwise, the armoured car is a mystery that can only be revealed by the fortune tellers.