Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) boss John Musinguzi Rujoki

MPs want URA boss sanctioned over 'illegal' Shs 95bn expenditure

by · The Observer

Members of parliament have called for the sanctioning of Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) boss, John Musinguzi Rujoki over unauthorized expenditures.

In FY 2022/2023, parliament approved Shs 554.510 billion for URA, but according to the Attorney General’s report, the tax body instead spent Shs 649.41 billion - representing a difference of Shs 94.9 billion.

Now, MPs on the Committee of Commissions, Statutory, Authorities and State Enterprise (Cosase) said it is illegal to spend taxpayers' money without authorisation and the minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Matia Kasaija ought to sanction the commissioner general. Most of this over-expenditure was spent on procuring office equipment, transport and furniture.

The MPs' report also notes that even the land and buildings procured by URA with funding from Trade Mark East Africa were not originally part of the approved budget, which also offends several sections in the Public Finance Management Act.

The MPs also took issue with the rate at which the URA wage bill was growing. URA’s wage bill grew by 35 per cent in the financial year 2022/2023. The report notes that URA’s 3,251 workers cost the taxpayers Shs 282.27 billion.

“The committee recommends that the authority targets a sustainable wage bill growth to further enhance tax administration efficiency gains,” the report notes.

Cosase is chaired by Busiro East member of parliament Medard Lubega Sseggona.   

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