Kiboga trader charged with impersonating revenue officer, denied bail
Edward Anyoli
Journalist @New Vision
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KAMPALA - A Kiboga district businessman charged with impersonating a Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officer has been denied bail.
Godfrey Tumusiime, 38, a resident of Bwezibwera, Kiboga, was charged on May 3, 2024, and remanded to Luzira Prison for allegedly impersonating a URA officer.
On May 14, 2024, senior principal grade one magistrate Abert Asiimwe declined to grant bail to Tumusiime, instead opting to allow URA to continue their investigation of the case. The court requested URA to provide updates on the status of their inquiries and to inform the court of their progress by May 20, 2024.
Tumusiime was earlier charged at the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala city before senior grade one magistrate Christopher Opit with two offences: Assuming the character of an officer, contrary to sections 198(a) and (b) of the East Africa Community Customs Act, 2004, and obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 305 of the Penal Code Act.
The prosecution, led by Hildah Atusimiire from URA, alleged that Tumusiime, between March and April 2024, at Rubale in Kasanda, presented himself as a URA officer and purported to conduct compliance checks in relation to Unvira Mumaana Enterprise SMS Ltd.
It is further alleged that Tumusiime, while at the premises of the Unvira Mumaana Enterprise SMS Ltd factory in Kyikandwa, Kasanda district, claiming to be a URA officer, obtained shillings three million from Sulaiman Ssebunje, the proprietor of Unvira Mumaana Enterprise SMS Ltd. Unvira Mumaana Enterprise SMS Ltd manufactures Envubu Extra alcoholic Kombucha drinks. He denied the charges and was remanded to Luzira Prison until May 14, 2024.
When Tumusiime first appeared in court, he was denied bail because he failed to present sureties for the court to release him. He was advised to reapply and ensure that the sureties have all the necessary documents, such as national identification, a local council letter, and financial statements.
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