KAMPALA: Uganda Telecom (UTL) said on Tuesday that it would ensure that all back taxes to the Uganda Revenue Authority would be paid in full and cleared in order to push forward on its plans for expansion in the country. UTL said in a published statement on its website that it is “fully committed” to clearing the matter of back taxes up with the revenue authority in the “very near” future. The Uganda Revenue Authority said the company is yet to pay over UGX 2 billion in taxes, which partly contributed to the tax body's half-year collection shortfalls. Moses Kajubi, URA's Deputy Commissioner General, said talk time taxes had partly been affected by the financial difficulties experienced by an operator. He said the “telecommunication company had accumulated UGX 2.15 billion in tax arrears between August and November,” adding that efforts to recover the amount in question were underway through the agency notices. According to the Daily Monitor, UTL has since acknowledged the tax arrears, although it has not stated publicly how much they believe they owe. UTL public relations officer Emmy Olaki said it is not unusual for a company to have tax arrears; “the important thing is the commitment to clear.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/V4cX7 Tags: Taxes, Telecom, Uganda, Uganda Telecom, UTL Section: East Africa, Tech
