MPs blast URA officials over CAA payment

Aug 24, 2017

The money is reportedly for the services URA consumes at the Airport such as electricity, water, rent and others.

(L-R) Hajati Sarah Sebunya, Corporation Secretary Civil Aviation Authority, Samalie Kisekka the Director Finance and Dr. David Mpango Kakuba ,the Managing Director appearing before the committee at Parliament on August  24, 2017. Photos by Roderick Ahimbazwe

Officials from Uganda Revenue Authority headed by Commissioner Customs Dickson Kateshumbwa Wednesday had a hard time explaining why they had not cleared Civil Aviation Authority's debt amounting to sh5b.

The money is reportedly for the services URA consumes at the Airport such as electricity, water, rent and others.

CAA managing director,  David Kakuba told MPs on Commissions Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) that  efforts to have URA pay have proved futile. " They occupy the biggest space at the Airport, we pay for them water, electricity but when we asked them to pay, they refused," he said.  

Quoting article 253 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, Kateshumbwa said the Commissioner General is mandated to designate a particular area for purposes of revenue collection.

"We gazated the area because they needed our services. We are happy to get out of Entebbe if our services are not required," Kateshumbwa said before  Katuntu ordered him to stop.

"Don't repeat that ever again here. This kind of arrogance is not acceptable. You are a government officer, don't behave as if…" Katuntu said before MP Elijah Okupa chipped in. "It's not your personal money. It's Parliament that appropriates money. Why do you have personal attachment as if it's yours personally?"

Efforts to quote the law did not help the officials. Katuntu insisted that the Solicitor General made an opinion and it should be followed.

"You have no legal basis not to pay. The S.G said you should pay. Learn to respect each other's opinion. I don't think you are a better lawyer than the Solicitor General. If you don't agree with his opinion, then you seek redress," Katuntu said.

Anita Among wondered why URA pays rent in other areas but finds it not prudent to pay CAA for the services including power and Water.

"When you collect that money, do you give it to CAA?" Among asked.

The Committee agreed to write to the Attorney General for further guidance and gave URA four months to resolve the conflict and start paying.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});