Isa Lusiba, a city businessman, faced charges of evading taxes amounting to Sh13.7 million, as he appeared before the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala on January 9, 2024. The Grade One Magistrate, Esther Asiimwe, presided over the proceedings where Lusiba was charged with two counts of fraudulent tax evasion, contravening section 203(e) of the East African Community Customs Management Act of 2004. Additionally, he faces a charge of being in possession of uncustomed goods, violating Section 200(d) of the same Act.
The prosecution, led by state attorney Ronald Baluku, asserted that in October 2021, Lusiba, with the intent of evading taxes, unlawfully affixed registration number plate UBG 129Y to a Subaru Forester in Kampala, resulting in a tax loss of Sh13.7 million. It was further alleged that during the same month, Lusiba was found in possession of an uncustomed Subaru Forester model 2008 with a dutiable value of Sh13.7 million.
Lusiba denied the charges but was remanded to Luzira prison until January 23, 2024, due to a lack of sureties to stand for him.
According to the law, under Section 200(d)(iii) of the East African Community Customs Management Act of 2004, a person found guilty of such an offence can face imprisonment up to five years or a fine of fifty percent of the dutiable value involved, or both. Similarly, under Section 203 of the same Act, a person found guilty of the offence can be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or fined up to $10,000 (approximately Sh37.7 million), or both.
