Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has asked artistes, Dejaays and events promoters to start paying taxes for their businesses in the entertainment industry. This came after artistes started asking government to support them through their association the Uganda Musicians Association (UMA) led by singer Cinderella Sanyu.
During Covid19 lockdown, artistes suffered from poverty like any other people because all businesses were shut down. As a way of getting what to feed their families, they cried to government for help. Some artistes received food and some money as well as the promoters. For promoters the money they received was a lot because they complained about how much they had invested that Covid19 shut down.
After Covid19 ceased and everything the Entertainment industry was opened up, URA started putting pressure on artistes to pay taxes because they are always expecting the government to help them. During this festive season of 2022, URA became more strict to artistes and promoters to pay the taxes they are supposed to pay.
They posted it on their social media platforms as a way of reminding the entertainment industry people to comply by their request or else they face consequences.
“𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿: to all Event Promoters, Musicians, DJs, VJs and others who earn income from the Entertainment Sector.
File and pay your tax returns this festive season. Failure to comply shall attract a fine and imprisonment. Don’t say we didn’t tell you.
#TaxFraudAlertUG
#URATickTock,” Uganda Revenue Authority posted.
It should be remembered that Ugandan artistes have been running their business of performing without paying any taxes for so many years. The people that have been trying to pay taxes are the events promoters and now URA now wants everyone in the entertainment industry to pay taxes for everything they do.