The Uganda Revenue Authority has come under intense security in Parliament over its “luxurious budget” after some MPs raised concerns over the proposal to spend UGX23Bn on welfare and entertainment.
The tax body has also earmarked UGX13.5Bn for workshops and seminars, while UGX18Bn is planned for staff training.
The concerns were raised by Ibrahim Ssemujju (Kira Municipality) during a meeting held between Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Parliament’s Committee of Finance, on 25th March 2026, held to consider the 2026/27 Ministerial Policy Statement for the Authority, where he described the proposed expenditure as a pandemic, noting that Government is throwing money at items regardless of whether they are relevant or not.
The other expenditure that came under scrutiny was the UGX69Bn on ICT to which Ssemujju remarked, “And then we need explnantion and get to understand where you have UGX52Bn for information and communication technology supply. And then you have UGX17Bn again on information and communication technology, one is supply, the other is services. Then the medical. Last year, it was controversial because you hadn’t explained it properly, is this medical insurance or you separately pay suppliers?”
The decision by URA to acquire new offices at Pearl Tower also attracted a series of questions from MPs.
Ssemujju accused URA of rushing to occupy the building owned by businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, even before the painting was dry, yet Government had spent nearly UGX180Bn on construction of URA tower at Nakawa, in Kampala.
Ssemujju tasked URA to explain why it continues to rent even after it constructed its own premises.
“… I don’t know how you got to know that the building is complete, because I passed there. I saw your vehicles yet they were still painting. You can’t simply collect the money, and then you go and spend it all. I am not only accusing you, but I am accusing the entire Government; you just have to explain your portion,” he said.
Abel Kagumire, Commissioner for Customs at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) defended the Authority’s decision to rent new premises at Pearl Tower, citing the shortage of space at the URA Tower at Nakawa in Kampala, that can hardly accommodate the high number of staff at URA.
Uganda Revenue Authority further defended its decision to acquire more premises citing the strategic location of Pearl Tower, claiming it would bring URA staff closer to the taxpayers downtown in Kampala.
The Authority also came under scrutiny by Goeffrey Ekanya (Tororo North) who questioned URA’s decision to construct a Tax Academy in Gulu, wondering why the proposal is being resurrected yet when it was first brought, Parliament rejected the proposal and asked URA to partner with any public University to offer specialised training to URA staff instead of constructing a whole academy.
Kagumire promised to provide a justification to URA on why the Authority needs an independent Tax Academy in its written response to the Committee, as well as the other questions that were raised by the Committee.
