Police on Thursday night foiled an attempt by UPDF soldiers to fleece Indian investors of ‘taxes’.
The incident occurred at around 1:30pm at Dewinton Drive opposite Spear House.
The business which according to available information is a workshop for Indian investors dealing in computers is registered as Mitsumi Computer garage Ltd.
According to a statement released by the deputy army spokesperson, Lt Col Deo Akiiki, two UPDF soldiers who were allegedly involved in the ploy have been arrested. One of them has been identified as Corporal Isoke.
Three other suspects purportedly working with the tax collection body Uganda Revenue Authority who had made it a routine to extort money from these investors are on the run.
Police has also impounded thirteen computers which were already loaded on the van purportedly due to the company’s failure to pay taxes were impounded. A number of URA documents related to tax were also found at the scene.
“We are working together with the Uganda Police Force, URA and owners of the warehouse to arrest the other remaining culprits on the run and bring the whole group to book,” the statement by UPDF read in part.
One of the Indians that run the business said that the fleecing has been going on for a while.
“These people have for long fleeced us. Approached us with URA documents and taken our money. This time they demanded a lot of money which we refused to pay and they went away only to return with men dressed in army uniform,” one of them said.
They said that the men move with URA seals. But when contacted by this website, the URA Manager for Corporate and Public Affairs, Ian Rumanyika said that the seals are fake. He said URA will soon issue a statement regarding the issue.
While some media reports have claimed that the UPDF spokesperson’s vehicle was used in the attempt to fleece, this site has learnt from credible UPDF sources that Brig Richard Karemire travelled and his vehicle is safely parked.
“Brig Karemire has not been around for some time, he is attending a short course and will be in the country in a few days,” the source said.
