URA, Police agree on implementation of Express Penalty Scheme

On Friday, Rose Wangwe, the Assistant Commissioner of the Medium Tax Office and Public Sector at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), held a strategic meeting with Assistant Inspector General of Police and Director of Traffic and Road Safety, Lawrence Nuwabiine, to deliberate on harmonising arrears under the Express Penalty System (EPS). The meeting was convened at the Uganda Police Force (UPF) Command Centre in Nateete.

This engagement marked a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between URA and UPF, aimed at enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the EPS. The joint efforts have led to the development of a modernised system for capturing and managing traffic penalty data.

“This system has addressed key challenges previously faced by the Traffic and Road Safety department, including the duplication of serial numbers, forgery and misuse of Police Book 26, and delays in reporting,” Wangwe explained. “We are confident that the new system will reduce operational costs and enable seamless data transfer between institutions.”

AIGP Nuwabiine acknowledged the accumulation of arrears caused by inaccuracies stemming from manual ticketing methods. He and Wangwe discussed pragmatic solutions to resolve these legacy issues and ensure improved compliance going forward.

“We must engage Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) with outstanding traffic fines and encourage prompt settlement of their dues,” Wangwe emphasized. “Equally important is promoting public awareness to drive compliance with EPS regulations. This will significantly enhance our non-tax revenue.”

The meeting was described as productive and timely, providing a platform to explore further areas of cooperation between URA and UPF.

“URA’s commitment to national development goes beyond tax collection,” Wangwe noted. “We are dedicated to working collaboratively with key stakeholders to develop robust systems that support and improve government operations.”