Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Commissioner General John R. Musinguzi has reaffirmed the tax body’s commitment to partnering with Nile Breweries Limited (NBL) to stamp out illegal and counterfeit alcoholic products, warning that such goods not only dodge taxes but also endanger consumers’ health.
Musinguzi made the remarks during a high-level meeting with a visiting delegation from NBL, a subsidiary of AB InBev Africa. The delegation was led by Cherian Kurien, Chief Financial Officer of AB InBev Africa.
“URA’s commitment to eliminating untaxed, illicit, and counterfeit products is absolute,” Musinguzi said, stressing that the Authority is leveraging advanced digital technologies to tighten compliance and safeguard revenue.
Central to this strategy is the Digital Tax Stamps (DTS) system, which Musinguzi described as a game changer in the fight against illicit trade. Since its introduction in 2019, the DTS system has significantly curtailed counterfeit and untaxed products on the market, helping to protect consumers while ensuring fair and increased tax contributions.
Cherian Kurien welcomed URA’s collaborative approach, praising Musinguzi’s leadership and what he termed an “open-door policy” that promotes constructive engagement between the tax authority and compliant businesses.
He also applauded URA for recognizing and rewarding compliant taxpayers, noting that such acknowledgment encourages companies to uphold high standards of tax compliance.
Nile Breweries recently emerged as the overall winner of the Excel Award at the 2025 URA Taxpayer Appreciation Awards gala. The company earned the top honor after achieving 100 percent tax filing compliance across all tax heads and ranking among Uganda’s leading revenue contributors.
“Nile Breweries is part of Uganda’s culture, and as a conglomerate, we understand that the future of beer is in Africa,” Cherian said, citing shifting global consumption patterns where beer markets are declining in other regions but expanding steadily across the African continent.
The renewed partnership between URA and NBL is expected to intensify the crackdown on illicit alcohol, promote fair competition in the beverage industry, enhance consumer safety, and boost domestic revenue mobilization.
