URA announces appointment of more senior managers

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has appointed seven executives to join its senior management team as the taxman ramps up efforts to strengthen revenue mobilization.

The departments, which benefitted from the appointments are Corporate Services, Domestic Taxes, Customs, and Internal Audit and Compliance.

The URA Board of Directors has named Julie Njuba Kiwanuka an assistant commissioner for business policy in the Domestic Taxes unit, while James Abola will serve in the Internal Audit and Compliance department as an assistant commissioner for staff compliance.

Asadu Kigozi Kisitu was posted in the Trade and Customs unit as an assistant commissioner while Lydia Mulondo Nsibambi will serve the Authority in the Corporate Services Department as an assistant commissioner in charge of learning and development.

This past week, KP reported that Richard Kariisa had been named a commissioner in the Corporate Services department while John Tinka Katungwensi was appointed an assistant commissioner for large taxpayers' office in the Domestic Taxes unit.

URA also appointed Abel Kagumire as the commissioner for customs, replacing Dicksons Kateshumbwa, who resigned from the Authority and is now running to represent Sheema Municipality in parliament.

The new URA commissioner general John Musinguzi recently noted that one of the reasons the taxman was not executing efficiently on its mandate was because it lacked adequate staff skills and competence leading to low professionalism.

The news changes could be aimed at strengthening some of the departments that have been suffering from inadequate staffing.

Musinguzi also said they will be using tech to reduce human interface and address the integrity of staff through improved organizational structure aligned with the digital age. 

As of June, Uganda's tax base was still small, according to URA, with only 1,594,104 taxpayers on the register, of which only 953,050 (78%) are active.