5 Shortlisted For URA Top Job

FIVE candidates, including three expatriates, have been shortlisted for the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Commissioner-General's post, reports Yunusu Abbey. The candidates are Mr. Henry Wade, an American, Annebritt Aslund, (a European) and Vateec Ihno, (an Asian). The only Ugandans are Mr. Justin Zake, the deputy Commissioner-General (Revenue) and Feddy Mwerinde, the Commissioner Internal Revenue. "The URA board of directors will interview the candidates on a date yet to be fixed. But at least by April 30, the successful candidate would have been named," a source said. "But what surprised URA senior officials was the omission of Dr. Ezra Suruma among the shortlist of candidates, given his experience, educational background and political influence," the source said. Suruma, the director for economic affairs at the Movement Secretariat, formerly headed the Uganda Commercial Bank and Uganda Airlines Corporation. Sources said about 20 people had applied for the post and their applications vetted by a sub-committee of the borad members chaired by E. Lubandi. Mr. Elly Rwakakooko, who had been the URA boss since July 1997, handed over to Stephen Akabway, his deputy, on September 22, 2000, after declining to renew his three-year contract. Ends