The tax body, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has said the resignations of senior officials at the authority were triggered by recent management decisions made by URA Board of Directors.
On Saturday, Commissioner Domestic Taxes Dickson Kateshumbwa, Commissioner for Tax investigations Henry Saka, Commissioner Large Taxpayers Office Silaj Kanyesige Baguma and Tax Auditor Samuel Kahima, made surprise resignations from their positions at once.
In a statement released on Saturday, managements says the officials chose to resign following Board recommendations on re-organization and management of the authority, made during a Board meeting on 28th May 2020.
The statement however did not mention the specific decisions which may have triggered the officials’ resignations.
It therefore remains unclear whether these were voluntary resignations or they have been forced to quit by the new Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki, as some media reports allege. However, the statement emphasizes that integrity and professionalism will define the new era at URA.
The statement also states that the URA Board of Directors has accepted the resignations and indicates that new officials have been appointed to take over the positions formerly occupied by the four with immediate effect.
The Commissioner Corporate services Mr. Mukiibi Patrick, has been moved to the office of the Commissioner Domestic Taxes.
Mr. Mathew Mugabi has been appointed as acting Commissioner Tax Investigations, while James Kizza takes over the office of Corporate Services formerly occupied by Mukiibi Patrick.
Mr John Tinka Katungwensi has been named Acting Assistant Commissioner Large Tax Payers Office, while
By the time of his resignation, Kateshumbwa, was serving as the Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council.
Through his Twitter handle, Dickson Kateshumbwa said he is so proud of his 14 year leadership service and he has no regrets whatsoever.
The surprise changes come at a time of a rapid decline in projected tax collections, reported to be around 48% against the target for the current financial year.
The resignations also come less than two weeks before the presentation of the government’s 2020/21 budget in which the Finance of Finance is also expected to show how the economy performed in the outgoing financial year.