The Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi, speaking in Parliament
Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for Finance
The Ministry of Finance and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) have clashed over the projected revenue that the Authority is expected to collect to finance the 2026/27 national budget.
This is after the Minister of State for Finance, Henry Musasizi asked Parliament to disregard the UGX41.513Trn figure that was presented by URA.
The clash happened during a meeting in which the two entities appeared before Parliament’s Finance Committee, convened on 25th March 2026, to consider the 2026/27 Ministerial Policy Statement for Uganda Revenue Authority.
Abel Kagumire, the Commissioner for Customs at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) informed the Committee that, “Revenue projection for the financial year 2026/2027 as per the second budget call circular, the total revenue projection is UGX41.513Trn. This is an increment of UGX4.286Trn compared to the current financial year 2025/2026 target of UGX37Trn.”
However, Minister Musasizi asked the Committee to disregard the figure noting, “Straight away, do some adjustment. The revenue number, the projected revenue figure for next financial year, I will present it with estimates. For now, let’s disregard what he has just presented. It will come with the estimates on 1st April, because we are still working on it.”
The discrepancies in figures between the Ministry of Finance and URA attracted protests from MPs.
Ibrahim Ssemujju (Kira Municipality) swiftly moved a motion to suspend proceedings of the meeting until the two parties sort themselves out.
Ssemujju went on to move his motion, asking fellow MPs to stay the consideration of the URA’s budget until the correct figure on how much revenue URA is expected to collect in 2026/27 is established, warning that proceeding with the meeting would violate the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, that bar MPs from debating in anticipation.
He was backed by Xavier Kyooma (Ibanda North) who argued that the Second Budget Call Circular is actually the last call circular that gives the update of all the sources that are contained in the ministerial policy statement.
However, Dickson Kateshumba (Sheema Municipality), opposed the move to stay consideration of URA’s budget noting, “This Committee is very much aware that government is tabling tax bills. The tax bills have an input into the projections of revenue and they have not yet been processed.”
He was however cut short by Ssemujju who reminded him that alluding to the tax bills that haven’t been formally tabled before Parliament violates the Rules of Procedure noting, “I stated here, you cannot debate in anticipation. As far as we are concerned, there are no tax bills. Is he in order to invite the committee to debate in anticipation?”
Amos Kankunda, Chairperson, Finance Committee however ruled against Ssemujju arguing that the Committee has a lot of work to handle and that the matter can be resolved through a vote and when he put the vote, although the voices of MPs that said aye were louder, Kandkunda announced that the MPs against the motion had taken the day.
In the 2026/27 national budget, Uganda Revenue Authority’s budget is expected to decrease to UGX877.396Bn of which, Wages account for UGX400.258Bn, while the Non-wage budget is at a tune of UGX412.35bn and the Capital development is only UGX64.788Bn.
