GODFREY ANYWAR

GULU: The first two randomly selected successive winners of the Uganda Revenue authority e-receipt promotion met the disappointment of their life time, when their wins were cancelled.

This was because their telephone numbers were not registered under their names.

During the e-receipt promotion award giving ceremony at Gulu main market on Friday evening,Susan Kirambo was announced winner, but upon verification, the phone number she used to make her entry was found not to be registered in her name, leading to her disqualification. The second draw winner Odoch Jamecy also suffered a similar fate. The two missed out on winning the brand new Bajaj boxer motorcycle.

The long awaited luck fell on Ambrose Omara, a Gulu City businessman whose driver’s license and national identity card bore his true name. An excited Omara says it’s by the Grace of God that he was announced winner.

“I only submitted my receipts this morning reluctantly, expecting nothing. I was on my way back home in Pece, only to receive this call that I have won a motorcycle. At first it did not sound true until e-receipt was mentioned. The fact that two winners had been declared and the motorcycle has ended up with me means God loves me, and he has plans for me,” Omara said.

While handing over the key of the motorcycle to the winner URA Gulu station head, Catherine Ayubo called on citizens to always demand for their e-receipts whenever they purchase items from shops and supermarkets to qualify for prizes in the “Mpa e-receipt yange”promotion campaign.

 “This promotion will run till September when the grand finale with huge prizes will be won. September is still far and the biggest prizes which will include foreign trips have not yet been decided. This is meant to reward clients and improve tax obligation understanding, which is on the increase,” Ayubo said.

Another prize winner, VeniCherotic a policewoman walked away with a Smartphone and she could not hide her excitement.

“I did not have a Smartphone and had always longed to have one. I am soon enrolling for a diploma course and the tablet will help me a lot. It has come at the right time. I thank God,” she said.

Other prizes of a Samsung Smartphone each went Odong Charles and Oloya Calvin, while Valentine Zirabamumuzaale who reported to be in Kampala will claim his prize of a laptop from URA office.

A similar event was held in Lira City, Arua city and Hoima city respectively.

The campaign is aimed at boosting tax obligation awareness to optimize revenue collection for development.