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The Ag. CJ, Hon. Justice Kavuma with members of the Tax Tribunal
Hon. Justice Steven B.K. Kavuma, the\r\nacting Chief Justice, wants the Tax Appeals Tribunal (TAT) to have presence in\r\nmore parts of the country to serve taxpayers better.
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"For it (TAT) to be better known and\r\nappreciated by the taxpayers countrywide, it should endeavor to establish its\r\npresence in more than the four regional areas where they currently operate,” he\r\nsaid, urging the Tribunal to expand beyond the Mbale, Gulu, Mbarara and Arua centers.
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"Taxpayers are all over the country and\r\nshould be enabled to easily access the services of the Tribunal. All this\r\nshould be accompanied by extensive public information programs about the\r\nTribunal’s programs and procedures.”
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Hon. Justice Kavuma made the remarks on\r\nJanuary 29,2015 at the Judiciary headquarters in Kampala while swearing in a\r\nfive-man Tribunal membership recently appointed by the Minister of Finance,\r\nPlanning and Economic Development, Maria Kiwanuka.
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TAT’s new membership includes Dr Asa\r\nMugenyi (chairman), and members: Dr Stephen B. Akabway, George Wilson Mugerwa, Christine\r\nNalubega Katwe and Siraj Ali.
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Hon. Justice Kavuma urged the new\r\nmembership to work hard to clear the outstanding cases that may have built up\r\nin the past four months following the expiry of the tenure of the old Tribunal.
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He also encouraged the team to focus\r\nmore on building its internal capacity through appropriate training of its\r\nMembers and the support staff including the area of customer care.
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The Tribunal was established in 1997 as\r\na specialized court to handle disputes arising from the taxation decisions of\r\nthe URA.
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"I am glad to note that according to the\r\nTax Appeals Tribunal Act, the Tribunal is independent and impartial. This\r\nis an essential element that should be maintained if justice is to be done in\r\nmatters that come before the Tribunal,” he said.
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Hon.\r\nJustice Kavuma commended the Tribunal, the taxpayers, the URA, the lawyers, the\r\naccountants and all the other stakeholders who have, in one way or another,\r\nassisted TAT in its endeavors to fulfill its\r\nmandate.
Posted 2nd, February 2015
