Business at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has come to a total paralysis when internet system shutdown completely, TrumpetNews has learnt.
The paralysis which started Monday was doubled down by the inability of users to access the URA online applications to use services like E- Tax, URA Portal, Customs and many more.
This website understands that the shutdown has this year occurred more than four times.
Those affected mostly include clearing agents whose survival largely depend on URA as they act on behalf of the public and the Authority.
“It takes a week days to register details of a new car including getting the number plate. Initially the process has been taking fifteen minutes,” said a clearing agent who asked to remain anonymous for fear of clamping down his business.
This website understands that even when URA tried to improvise with its second line of the internet system, there was no progress.
A source in URA revealed to this website that the internet procured from the service providers was much more less than the loads entered on a daily basis.
“The officials know very well that loads like those from customs and E- tax reports are very much heavy. Why would they buy something that doesn’t accommodate what we deal with?” a source questioned.
Adding that part of the money was funnelled to individuals at the top.
Asked to name these officials, our source declined.
Speaking to the Dicksons Collins Kateshumbwa the Customs Commissioner said that he was an end user and doesn’t have more information although he admitted there has been a shutdown of internet.
He referred this website to Deputy Commissioner in charge of IT James Kizza who said he was on vacation.
However he attributed the paralysis to a heavy load of E-Tax reports which have been entered in the system thus slowing down the URA applications.
“Our team has since cleared these reports to ease performance of the system,” said Mr. Kizza.
Asked about the procurement scandal, Mr. Kizza said he was unaware.
The Public Relation Officers Vincent Seruma when contacted said, the shutdown has been sorted because URA IT office activated line two of the internet system.
