Mazda, Shell Sign Partnership
December 21, 2020
NRM vote protection move to check poll violence
December 21, 2020
By Nathan Ngobi
A plot to fire John Musinguzi Rujoki, the Commissioner General, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has been finalized.
According to trusted sources, his knifing follows the mismanagement of the tax body during the campaign period which the ruling party says could cost President Yoweri Museveni in the January 14, 2020 polls.
It is alleged that Musinguzi Rujoki, using his powers, sacked and recruited people for top yet juicy URA jobs without following the proper procedures and regional balance.
The source disclosed to us that the bitter Museveni has learnt that Musinguzi Rujoki recently sacked senior commissioners whose contracts he refused to renew while they come from regions and areas like Luwero and Mbale where the opposition is using the sacked officers to decampaign the National Resistance Movement party government which is seeking another term to lead Ugandans.
Musinguzi reportedly went ahead and instead recruited several unqualified officers to work in senior URA management positions without following the right government procedures in the recruitment exercise.
For Luwero triangle area, Musinguzi sacked Ms. Nakakawa Robinah the then assistant commissioner Internal Audit the only girl from that war raged area who was serving in the URA senior management position and neighbor to Haji Abdul Naduli.
While the same axe fell on Joseph Mwangala Mugabi the then assistant commissioner custom audit from Mbale City.
A source told us that Museveni who is yet to move to the tax body and fix the mess caused by Rujoki Musinguzi was briefed on how senior Government officers and ministers influenced Musinguzi and recruited three officers in senior management positions without following the proper public service procedures.
The three officers were never subjected to interviews and no advert ran over their positions while they were given senior positions without working in the URA for some time as required by law.
According to the inside source, the three are Abola James, No. 11545 Assistant Commissioner Staff compliance whose initial contract started 1st Sept. 2020 and expires on 31st August 2023. He is the husband to one of the senior state house officer who is at the forefront of fighting corruption in the country.
Second on the list is Ms Kyambadde Nazziwa Ishta No. 10027, the Asistant Commissioner Administration whose initial contract kicked off on 02nd Nov 2020 and expires on 01st Nov 2025. She is a daughter of a senior minister in Government while Mrs Mulondo Nsibambi Lydia No. 11548, the Assistant Commissioner Learning and Development whose contract started on 01st Sept. 2020 and expires on 31st August 2025, comes from the famous Nsibambi family.
Musinguzi Rujoki went ahead and promoted Mr. Karugire Abel to commissioner customs department, a senior management position he acquired after working in URA for one and half years that contravenes with the public service standing order.
Some of the other Musinguzi woes stem from the accusation that he reportedly promoted Sarah Kasheka Mwesigye who has several files of corruption for example GEF/001/2013 where the tax payers of Olam Uganda limited, a company that brought Thailand raw sugar in 2012 and asked URA to allow re-bagging it for export to S. Sudan, Rwanda and DR. Congo but the sugar disappeared.
Musinguzi instead renewed Kasheka’s contract which was to expire on 0n 09th Feb 2021 and promoted her to full Ag. Commissioner T.I.D at the tax body.
Top senior NRM officers speaking on strict condition of anonymity told us that practicing of nepotism, tribalism and regional imbalance of jobs at URA by Musinguzi is costing the NRM party and that they have asked President Museveni to move and fix the mess before elections.
“Leaving top management at the commissioners’ level for just one region is an issue that would cost the President votes at this time of the general elections,” the sources said, adding that of the 7 top Commissioners, six come from only one region.
Among those cited by the source is the CG himself who hails from Kiruhura; Commisioner Legal Services Emilly Tumusiime Rubagumya who hails from Mbarara; Commissioner Customs Abel Kagumire from Bushenyi, Sarah Mwesigye Kasheka (who was promoted to Ag. Commissioner Tax Investigations) from Mbarara; Commissioner Corporate Services Richard Kaliisa from Mbarara and the Commissioner Internal Audit Herbert Rushoke who hails from Bulisa.
“It is only the Commissioner Domestic Taxes Patrick Mukiibi (No. 10006) who does not come from the west,” the sources noted.
Meanwhile, there are many officers whose contracts expire soon and are worried about the administration of Musinguzi Rujoki who is fuelling the URA with only senior staff from one area.
Those whose contracts expire soon include Seruma Vincent, the Assistant commissioner public and cooperate Affairs (09 Feb 2021), Nabwire Agnes Assistant commissioner Intelligence (28th Feb 2021) , Magera Steven the Executive Assistant to commissioner General ( 09th Feb 2021) but already on forced leave; Mukibi Patrick, the only commissioner who does not come from western Uganda (commissioner Domestic Tax – 31st Jul.2021); Odongo James Assistant Commissioner DT process management (10th Mar. 2021) from Katakwi and Kizza James, Assistant Commissioner, information Technology (09 Feb 2021) among others.
