The exodus of employees at the tax body, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) seems to have no end in sight with the reported resignation of more personnel.
Last evening, the once powerful Commissioner in charge of Domestic Taxes Dickens Kateshumbwa resigned.
“Today, after more than 14 years of service in the Authority, I have decided to end my tour of duty ahead of my contractual period with immediate effect,” he wrote to all URA staff.
Mr. Keteshumbwa, rose through the ranks in his 14-year stint at URA, serving in the domestic taxes, tax investigations audit, and Commissioner for Customs until February 28, 2020 when the former Commissioner General Doris Akol made sweeping changes, reshuffling four commissioners and promoting Mr. Abel Kagumire to replace him.
According to close sources, three other Commissioners including Mr. Silajji Kanyesigye, the Assistant Commissioner, Large Taxpayer Office; the Commissioner Tax Investigations, Mr. Henry Martin Saka and Sam Kahima, a Tax Auditor in the Domestic Tax Department are also leaving the tax body.
The development comes amid speculation that some URA top officials are facing inquiry over alleged corruption among other allegations.
Other reports indicate that several positions including that of Mr. Herbert Rusoke, the Commissioner Internal Audit and Compliance Department among others are under review as the new Commissioner General John Rujoki Musinguzi gets to work.
Two months ago, President Museveni dropped the once powerful URA Commissioner General Doris Akol over unknown reasons replacing her with Musinguzi, who was known in the customs circles.
The reasons for Akol’s sudden drop were perplexing especially since she had been taunted as a stellar performer with URA’s collections growing annually since she took over from Allen Kagina.
Details emerging however indicate that Museveni had wanted to disband the whole senior management team at URA over corruption allegations that had cost the country a lot of leakages in terms of tax collections, with the perpetrators being these same senior managers who had hatched a plan and incorporated their personally recruited staff who they were conniving with to make money.
This website has also learnt that President Museveni had placed a team of pseudo CMI operatives inside URA to carefully note how the tax collection body was operating.
The reports said the country had a potential to fully self-fund the national budget with very little help from the donors. The major loophole to had been pointed out as the unending graft that at URA led by senior managers who were aiding many businessmen evade taxes causing losses.
URA Speaks Out
However, URA has revealed that on 28th May, 2020, the URA Board of Directors sat and made recommendations concerning the reorganization and Management of the tax body.
In a statement dated 30th May, 2020, URA said on the 29th May, 2020, the following Senior Officials chose to resign and the Board has accepted their resignations; Mr. Dicksons Kateshumbwa, Mr. Henry Saka, Mr. Silajji Kanyesigye Baguma and Mr. Samuel Kahima.
Following the above developments and in line with the URA Leadership Rotational Framework, URA said, the composition of the Heads of Department and the Large Taxpayers Office will be as follows with immediate effect:-
(i) Mr. Mukiibi Patrick has been transferred from the position of Commissioner Corporate Services to the position of Commissioner Domestic Taxes.
(ii) Mrs. Patience T. Rubagumya remains as Commissioner Legal Services and Board Affairs.
(iii) Mr. Herbert Rusoke remains as Commissioner Internal Audit and Compliance.
(iv) Mr. Abel Kagumire remains as Acting Commissioner Customs.
(v) Mr. Mathew Mugabi has been appointed as Acting Commissioner Tax Investigations.
(vi) Mr. James Kizza has been appointed as Acting Commissioner Corporate Services.
(vii) Mr. John Tinka Katungwesi will be Acting Assistant Commissioner Large Taxpayers Office.
The tax body said other Senior Management positions are not affected by these changes.
“Management wishes to reiterate that Integrity, Patriotism, and Professionalism will define the new era at URA,” URA said.
