Kasaija backs Akol for another term
Uganda Revenue Authority Commissioner General Doris Akol. File Photo
Kampala- Finance minister Matia Kasaija and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) board have recommended to President Museveni that Ms Doris Akol be given another term as Commissioner General of the tax body, Daily Monitor has learnt.
Mr Kasaija said the decision was taken a month ago and awaits approval by the President.
“The board and I recommended that her contract be renewed [for another 4 years]. She is doing a good job and with some modification, she can do better,” Mr Kasaija told this newspaper by telephone on Sunday.
He was responding to our inquiries on information that President Museveni had extended Ms Akol’s contract for only six months upon expiry as the minister looks for her replacement.
Rumours have been that the President was angry with Ms Akol accusing her of failure to widen tax collection and to stamp out corruption, especially among customs officials.
“I recommended her and I have not received any information that her contract will not be renewed,” Mr Kasaija added.
Uganda collects tax of about 14 per cent to GDP in revenue, which some analysts say is below the country’s tax collection potential.
Kenya collects about 18 per cent of its GDP in revenue and Rwanda 16 per cent.
The tax-to-GDP ratio is a ratio of a country’s tax revenue relative to its gross domestic product (GDP). Currently, less than 7 per cent of the working population and 10 per cent of firms are registered as taxpayers in Uganda, according to available URA data.
Complaints
President Museveni recently ordered for the suspension of some URA officials over what he termed as “frustrating” Guangzhou Dongsong Energy Group Limited officials by reportedly refusing to clear their machinery at customs.
Dongsong is a Chinese company that has injected $620m (Shs2.2 trillion) to develop Osukuru industrial complex in Tororo District, part of which will be to produce fertiliser.
“The URA staff, either out of ignorance, malice or corruption are tossing our investors endlessly—in this case for the whole of July 2018,” Mr Museveni said.
