Exactly two months after replacing Doris Akol, John Musinguzi Rujoki, the new Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Commissioner-General has swung his axe, forcing two Commissioners, one Assistant Commissioner and a top tax auditor to resign.
Doris Akol was on March 29th removed from Office by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni over failing to reign in corruption by top URA officers who were deemed untouchable. However, Akol herself was found out to be clean.
The Commissioner Domestic Taxes, Dicksons Collins Kateshumbwa; Assistant Commissioner, Large Taxpayer Office, Silajji Kanyesigye; Commissioner Tax Investigations, Henry Martin Saka and Sam Kahima, a Tax Auditor in the Domestic Tax Department resigned apparently after they disagreed with the board recommendations over their roles- according to a URA Statement.
The statement, however, did not say what those recommendations were or why they had been made.
Following the resignations, Mukiibi Patrick has been transferred from the position of Commissioner Corporate Services to the position of Commissioner Domestic Taxes.
Mathew Mugabi previously, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Tax Investigations has been appointed as Acting Commissioner Tax Investigations. James Kizza, formerly the Assistant Commissioner Information Technology has been appointed as Acting Commissioner Corporate Services. John Tinka Katungwesi will be Acting Assistant Commissioner Large Taxpayers Office.
Letters to My Younger Self: Robinah Siima — “Success Is Quieter, But Richer”Mrs. Patience T. Rubagumya (Commissioner Legal Services and Board Affairs); Herbert Rusoke (Commissioner Internal Audit and Compliance) and Abel Kagumire (Acting Commissioner Customs) retained their jobs.
In an email written by Kateshumbwa to staff, that we have reproduced here below, Kateshumbwa said he was proud of his achievements at the revenue body.
Good evening Staff
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. I have been privileged to serve in Customs, Tax Investigations and Domestic Taxes in addition to holding the WCO Chairmanship, Chairman Board of Trustees URA Staff Retirements Benefits Scheme, among others. I am particularly proud of the great countless reforms implemented that transferred Customs. This experience will be greatly put to use in my next occupation.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all staff that have worked with me directly or indirectly over the years. Special appreciation to the great Airbus team and recently the DT F1 group. Special appreciation also to my Senior Management colleagues for the great teamwork, spirit and comradeship since 2011 when I joined senior bench. I thank the URA Board of Directors for having given me the opportunity to serve. Thank you CG for the leadership and teamwork.
I have given my youthful service to URA, served diligently and leave with my spirits very high and will be forever indebted to URA.
Kateshumbwa resigns just three months after being removed from the more powerful Customs Department where he was commissioner. He was replaced by Abel Kagumire who had previously been an Assistant Commissioner Customs Audit.
Saka too has been the Commissioner for Tax Investigations for just 3 months, after being moved from being Commissioner of Domestic Taxes.
