STATEHOUSE SOURCES: Doris Akol was replaced for failing to fight corruption at Uganda Revenue Authority In the 5 years she worked with URA, the hardworking and honest Ms. Akol, grew tax revenue by more than 83% from UGX9.9tn to UGX 16.6tn- cumulatively collecting UGX65 tn. But apparently it was her failure to reign-in corrupt and connected senior colleagues that did her in. The appointment of Musinguzi- who has president M7 ear is expected to close that gap and sooner than later, several heads shall roll at URA.

“Mzee (President Museveni), cited corruption. Although herself she was very clean, her failure to hold to account other officials at various levels of the organization did her in,” intimated a source at Statehouse, very familiar with the matter.

Doris Akol was this morning replaced with, John Musinguzi Rujoki; President Museveni’s Senior Presidential Advisor on ICT and Investment.

Tweeting this morning, Museveni said the appointment takes immediate effect.

Indeed, Doris Akol, who has reportedly been on leave immediately sent an email to all URA staff at 13:37 saying: “His Excellency has just appointed Mr. John Musinguzi as the new Commissioner-General with immediate effect. Let’s welcome Mr. Musinguzi to the URA family and render him utmost support. It has been an absolute honour and privilege to be your team leader for 5 years and 5 months. Thank you for loving me, for supporting me and for being loyal to me.”

As if to give a hint on her ouster, Doris Akol wrote in her email: “The struggle to liberate our country continues.”

She also said on Twitter that Musinguzi would assume office tomorrow on Monday, March 29^th 2020, which is unusual.

“As of tomorrow, this Twitter handle will be used by Mr. John Musinguzi. I welcome John to the URA Family. It has been an absolute honour and privilege to serve Uganda as URA Commissioner-General. May blessings and wisdom abound for you, John. Signing out; D Akol.”

Doris had just served one year and five months of her second 4-year term as Commissioner-General.

President Museveni has over the last few months been baying for blood, threatening to “show” corrupt government officials a lesson.

Sources at URA, say the amiable and hardworking Akol has struggled with fighting corruption at URA but was failed by certain officials at URA who are said to equally be well connected, making it difficult for her to hold them accountable.

Recently, she even reshuffled her senior staff, moving four commissioners and promoted one assistant commissioner to the rank of acting commissioner. In the changes, Herbert Rusoke, previously the Commissioner Corporate Services, was moved Internal Audit and Compliance Department as its Commissioner.

Mr. Patrick Mukiibi, previously the Commissioner Tax Investigations became the new Commissioner Corporate Services while Henry Saka, previously the Commissioner of Domestic Taxes became the Commissioner for Tax Investigations. Saka was replaced by Dickson Kateshumbwa who was previously the Commissioner, Customs Department.

Mr. Abel Kagumire who was the Assistant Commissioner Customs Audit was made the acting Commissioner Customs Department.

John Musinguzi, the man for the job

According to the statehouse sources, there couldn’t have been a better replacement for Akol than John Musinguzi, a computer wizard, a close confidante of Museveni with both auditing and paramilitary skills.

Musinguzi is no stranger to revenue collection himself- he was the former head of the finance and audit department in the Special Revenue Protection Services (SRPS)- a military unit attached to Uganda Revenue Authority which largely brought an end to smuggling on Ugandan borders with deadly fire.

Mr. Musinguzi who has also been the board chair of the National Information Technology Authority (NITA) holds a Master’s degree in Computing and Information systems of University of Greenwich and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics of Makerere University.

He joins almost at the same time with Mr. Juma Kisaame, the former dfcu Bank Managing Director, who was days ago appointed as the Authority’s Chairman. Together they have a task of not only fighting corruption but bringing in revenues at a time when the economy is on the brink of recession due to Covid-19- the deadly disease sweeping all over the world.

Ministry of Finance has predicted that due to Covid-19 related challenges, there will be tax revenue shortfalls of up to UGX82.4 billion for the remaining period of the FY2019/20 and about UGX187.6 billion in FY2020/21. However, a prolonged prevalence of the disease could cause wider domestic revenue shortfalls by as much as UGX288.3 billion in FY 2019/20 and UGX350 billion in FY2020/21. As a result, preliminary economic growth for FY2019/20 has been revised downwards from 6.0 percent to between 5.2 – 5.7 percent depending on the severity of the COVID-19 impact on Uganda.

The UGX65 trillion Doris Akol 

During her 5 years and five months, Ms. Akol is credited from improved Revenue Performance, growing the tax register as well as greatly improving trade facilitation. Ms. Akol, who became Commissioner-General in November 2014, during her time, tax revenue grew by more than 83% from UGX9.9 trillion in FY2014/15 to UGX 16.6 trillion in FY 2018/19- cumulatively collecting UGX65 trillion in her 5 years.

She also nearly doubled the tax register growing it from 763,150 taxpayers to 1,487,354 at the end of FY2018/19.

The average net revenue collections growth over the five year period was at 15.72%. The tax to GDP ratio has increased from 12.84 % in FY 2014/15 to 15.11 % in FY 2018/19 above the NDPII target of 14.90% for FY 2018/19. Over the five year period, the tax to GDP ratio increased by 2.27 percentage points and specifically, the tax to GDP ratio in FY 2018/19 has grown by 0.78% higher than the IMF target of 0.5%.

In partnership with Trademark East Africa, she operationalised five out of the six One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) were operationalised; these are Malaba, Busia, Mirama Hills, Mutukula and most recently Elegu on the South Sudan border. OSBPS have translated into reduced border crossing time for businessmen from 3 days in FY 2015/16 to 2 hours in FY 2017/18. Other trade-enhancing initiatives implemented by URA in partnership with Trademark East include the Centralized Document Processing Centre (DPC), Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS), Authorized Economic Operator Programme (AEO), Cargo Inspection Scanners, Single Customs Territory and Uganda Electronic Single Window (UESW).

All the above initiatives have reduced clearance time of cargo from Mombasa, from 18-22 days in FY 2012/13 to 4-6 days in 2017/18.