URA board denies being consulted on the sh6b oil bonus

Jan 31, 2017

Kagugube at first declined to give an opinion whether the payment was irregular.

The probe committee on Commission, State Authorities and State Enterprises

Uganda Revenue Authority board members have denied being consulted on the payment of sh6b oil bonus payment to 42 government officials.

Board Chairman Simon Kagugube told members of the probe committee on Commission, State Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) that the matter was only brought to their attention after management appeared before the Committee.

"Mr. Chairman, the board did not play any role in the payment of the sh6b oil reward. The payment was done from somewhere else. The matter was only brought to our knowledge on Friday. Just like you, we came to know about it through the press," he said.

"However, I have seen a letter from the Ministry of Finance authorizing the payment…." But before he could complete the submission, the committee chairman Abdu Katuntu wondered whether that was regular for the Commissioner General to pay out money without even consulting the board.

"This is your budget. Do you find it regular that they paid money from your budget without even consulting you? The Ministry of Finance has no authority over your budget. Don't just try to justify the payment," Katuntu warned.

Kagugube at first declined to give an opinion whether the payment was irregular.

However after pressure from the committee members, Kagugube responded, "Mr.  Chairman, as the board we find it irregular that money not in the budget is paid out without our knowledge."

After Kagugube's submission, Akol citing section 9 of the Public Finance Management Act shot back arguing that there was no need to consult the board since the payment had already been sanctioned by the Ministry of Finance and did not relate to any of URA activities which the board is mandated to monitor.

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