The UGX19.7 trillion Musinguzi plan: URA’s carrot and stick strategy to navigate COVID-19 and meet 2020/21 tax revenue targets John Rujoki Musinguzi was appointed in March 2020 by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to take on the big task of leading Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Uganda’s tax agency. Compared to his predecessor, Doris Akol who was almost a career tax collector, Musinguzi, a tech guru was seen as an outsider and some people were quick to dismiss him. Slightly more than 6 months on the job, the soft spoken computer guru and mathematician, who calls his staff “comrades” and “fellow combatants” and views his job as an “economic revolution that will liberate our country from economic dependence” seems to be on track to get the job done. And his flair is different too- he preaches integrity and efficiency and prefers to wag the carrot until it is absolutely necessary to reach for his stick.
Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) during the Q1 FY2020/21 (July to September 2020), took in UGX 4,070.3 billion in tax revenue, against a target of UGX 2,999.8 billion. This is 135.7 percent above target, an equivalent of UGX 1,070.6 billion surplus, John Rujooki Musinguzi, the Uganda Revenue Authority Commissioner General told the media at a press conference this week.
Speaking at the quarterly p
