16 staff shortlisted for URA top positions

BUSINESS  | URA

Uganda Revenue Authority has shortlisted 16 out of 58 of its staff who had applied to fill top position of those who were either sacked or whose contracts were not renewed. Those shortlisted will be seating for oral interviews set to be conducted on Wednesday August 26.

Some of the positions that URA intends to fill include three senior positions of Commissioner for Customs, Commissioner Corporate Services, and Commissioner Tax Investigations. Others positions advertised include Assistant Commissioner Customs Trade, Assistant Commissioner Large Tax Office, Manager Internal Audit, Manager Tariff and Manager Litigation.

URA spokesperson URA Spokesperson, Vincent Seruma confirmed the shortlisting but declined to comment on the matter noting that this was an internal issue. The New Vision has however learnt that the URA Board internally advertised the jobs to allow staff who had better experience fill them.

In May this year, several top Commissioners in URA who included Dickson's Kateshumbwa, Henry Saka, Silajji Kanyesigye Baguma and Samuel Kahima chose to resign.






The board subsequently made recommendations concerning the reorganization and Management of URA. On the 29th May, 2020, URA effected changes which saw the transfer of Patrick Mukiibi from the position of Commissioner Corporate Services to the position of Commissioner Domestic Taxes.

Among those who had initially applied for the position of Commissioner Customs included Jane Akello Lukone Odeke, Abel Kagumire who has been acting Commissioner Customs, Richard Kariisa, Joseph Mugabi, Sarah Mwesigye Kasheka, Agnes Nabwire Asobola who is the Assistant Commissioner Customs,  Julius Nkwasire Mponooka, Stephen Ojambo  and Goeffrey Okaka Owich.

However the Staff Committee of the URA Board which convened on Thursday, shortlisted only four candidates who included Mwesigye, Okaka, Kagumire and Ojambo.

Those who had applied for the position Commissioner Corporate Services included Micah Samuel Gaalya, Richard Kariisa, Diana Kisaka and James Kiiza.  The board however shortlisted only two and these were Kariisa and Kiiza.

Those who applied for the Commissioner Tax Investigations include Michael Byaruhanga, Milly Isingoma Nalukwago, Stephen Mugabi, Joseph Mwangala Mugabi, Sarah Mwesigye Kasheka, Julius Nkwasire Mponooka, Geoffrey Okaka Owich and Rose Sambula Wangwe.  The Staff Committee however further decided that the job description for the position of Commissioner Tax Investigation be reviewed.

Those who applied for the position of Assistant Commissioner Large Tax office were three and they included John Katungwensi Tinka, Evans Mwesigye and Damile Nguna. Only Katungwensi and Mwesigye were shortlisted.

In March this year, President Yoweri Museveni appointed John Musinguzi Rujoki to replace Doris Akol as the Commissioner General. Rujoki has since embarked on a series of changes in the institution aimed at transforming the tax authority.

The search for new office holders also come at point in time when Rujoki has outlined a raft of measures to bolster Uganda's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The fiscal measures come in tandem with Bank of Uganda's accommodative monetary policy after growth projections collapsed.