Taxman 2

Our August 2016 Issue
BEAUTIFUL 1

is

Taking Shape

TAXMAN EDITORIAL

New beginnings are always a pleasure at work and in
our personal lives.

In this particular issue we profile the newest Assistant
Commissioners. Find out what makes them tick. We also
profile Douglas Kabagambe who survived an accident
by God’s grace during the course of duty. Read about
his resilience and God’s mercy that kept him safe.

EDWeITwOelRcoIAmLe yToEurAidMeas on how to makFeRthOisMmTagHazEinEeDITOR

even better.

Flip through to tickle your brain on our quiz page. Get
the answers riHgeaDhdaovtfidCaoMnnutedgnytewannydii.nQpusadylitoy urself a beautiful gift.

[email protected]

We look forward to your feedback on
[email protected]
Enjoy your reading

Sarah Birungi Banage

Susan Karungi Muyiyi

ASSISTANT COMMsmIuSEydSiiytoi@IrO/uWrNari.tgeEor.uRg
PUBLIC AND CORPORATE
AFFAIRS DIVISION.

EDITORIAL TEAM Susan ITORIALImmaculateHerbert
Karungi Wanyenze Sempogo
IRCauonnmI.mitMweamannnatycyueMitklEsaaeadt@enitoWaurrgaan.egyroe.ungze Muyiyi Editor Writer
Editor / Writer
Benon
Samuel Solomon Paul Tajuba Tugumisirize
SeSmamuugeol Soemmuagooma Kimbugwe Writer & writer and
Writer photographer
2 PhotoPghroatopghraeprher photographer
[email protected]

CG’S MESSAGE

We are deliberate!

We can all relate to the thrill of the Rio Olympics games.

I specifically bring to your attention the “Pole Vaulting” game. What does it say
about us? As Uganda Revenue Authority, our revenue targets are always set
higher than the previous financial years.

For the financial year 2016/2017, we are expected to collect UGX.13.2 Trillion up
from UGX.11.63 Trillion. We need to work at surpassing our targets in a manner
that is similar to the person who plays the pole vaulting game. The higher the bar
is set, the more intense and deliberate the technique one requires to rise above
the set bar. One of the essential skills required to succeed in this game is SPEED.

We have set a good pace in revenue administration within the region, and the
several benchmarking visits by the regional tax bodies are clear testimonies of
how we conduct our business processes.

URA will host the World Customs Organisation and Authorised
Economic Operator Global Conference in 2018. This is a great
milestone for us and the country at large.

Regardless of all the successes we continue to enjoy, there is
need for us to continuously re-invent our approaches towards our
business operations. We are operating in an ever changing business
environment; and therefore we have often adopted the culture of re-
defining our strategic focus every four years in line with the National
Development goals.

Currently, we are looking at cultivating a taxpaying culture through provision of Reliable Services, Leadership Development and
building Strategic Partnerships for the period 2016-2020. I urge you to own this strategy; nurture it; relate it to your everyday
activities and this should be able to guide your work output.
Remember we are not just ID numbers, but we are here to make an impact in our respective areas of influence. How are we
creating change? What should you continue doing? The answers to these questions should help us focus on our activities.
Although we are not a profit-making entity, our agenda is so intense. We are on a deliberate move to end donor dependence
and expect that Ugandans will be able to fund their expenditure by 2040.

I raise a toast to appreciate all the achievements we have enjoyed since the inception of this Organisation as we celebrate 25
years of existence this September.

As your team leader, I promise to skill and equip you to deliver our mandate.

Doris Akol

33

What a

Sure
Deal

Projected

Net Revenue Target

for FY 2016/17
is

UGX 13.86Tn.

4

STRATEGY

BRIEF ON URA STRATEGIES FOR FY 2016/17

1. INTRODUCTION

The financial year 2016/17 is the first year of implementation of URA‘s Corporate Plan 2016/17 to 2019/20.
URA has adopted the Business Model Canvas and Balanced Scorecard Fusion Methodology as our strategy
and planning tools. Our strategy for the medium term period is to cultivate a taxpaying culture through
provision of reliable services, leadership development and building strategic partnerships.

The projected net revenue target for FY 2016/17 is UGX 13.86Tn. This represents a growth of 21.2% (UGX
2.24Tn). The Tax to GDP ratio is expected to grow from the projected target of 13.68% (FY 2015/16) to
14.95%. The MTEF budget allocation to URA in the FY 2016/17 is UGX 278.36 Bn (2.01% of the net revenue
target) to finance the recurrent and capital expenditure.

2. KEY STRATEGIES FOR FY 2016/17

The following strategies have been developed to meet the target:

“ URA has adopted “
the Business
Model Canvas
and Balanced
Scorecard Fusion
Methodology as
our strategy and
planning tools.

5

STRATEGY

S/N OBJECTIVE INTERVENTIONS
1 Maximize Revenue • Strengthen timely revenue reconciliation and reporting

2 Improve Compliance • Strengthen timely management of objections and disputes
resolution

• Strengthen monitoring of revenue collections
• Implement the Joint Risk Compliance programs

o Develop a Structured risk assessment mechanism
o Joint risk identification & assessment
o Strengthen Investigations & Intelligence
o Strengthen Enforcement & Surveillance
o Implement the National Audit Plan
o Conduct Post Clearance audits
o Post audit assessment program
o Implement Industry/sector based compliance Mgt
o Strengthen the AEO program
o Implement NTC
o Implement Exchange of Information
• Implement Tax Education interventions

• Strengthen Debt Recovery

• Strengthen Litigation

• Implement TREP 3

• Implement phase 1 of Electronic Fiscal Devices

6

STRATEGY

3 Improve quality of service • Establish Client Access Points (Liaison Offices)
4
• Implement Public Relations Initiatives e.g. Sports and Games,
CSR, Media mgt, publicity etc.

• Organize Taxpayer Appreciation Day

• Strengthen Client Support Services

• Implement Office Branding services

• Complete OSBPs at Katuna and Elegu

Optimize Stakeholder • Continue with construction works for URA HQ Building
relations • Develop stakeholder management guidelines

• Collaborations at National, Regional & International level

o Engage Gov’t and Development Partners for resourcing
of Strategic initiatives

o Collaborate with state revenue agencies and other
government entities to exchange data and information

o Collaborate with agencies to conduct joint enforcement
operations and support the implementation of legislation

o Empower different groups of stakeholders to support URA
in reaching to taxpayers to meet their tax obligations.

o Empower different groups of stakeholders to support URA

in reaching to taxpayers to meet their tax obligations.

7

STRATEGY

5 Transform our Processes • Review and Simplify Registration, Filing & Payment processes
• Conduct Researches & Evaluation
• Processes/Standards review and implementation
• Establish URA virtual archives (Record Management etc.)
• Implement phase 1 of ERP
• Implement the Tax Procedure Code
• Carry out system upgrades (ASYCUDA, Sun etc.)
• Commence process to extend ECTS to Mombasa
• Implement phase 2 DWH/ BI solution
• Implement Electronic Single Window
• Implement Document Processing centre
• Operationalize the SCT Guidelines under the EAC

6 Improve our People • Develop the capacity of staff (Data mining & Analysis Skills,
PODITI, PODITRA, PODICA, On job training etc.)

• Implement staff integrity enhancement programs (Forums,
workshops etc.) Implement staff retention schemes

• Implement staff maintenance schemes

• Knowledge management programs

• Staff rotation programs

• Structural review and alignment – phase 1

8

STRATEGY

URA Strategy 2016 - 2019

“Cultivating a tax paying culture through provision of Reliable services
Leadership development and building strategic partnerships”

Perspective are performance LENSES that put strategy

in context. They help us understand that URA is

made of elements that work together to

create value. Finance

The learning and innovation LENS Client
reflects the internal capacity building
required to improve internal Business
Processes, and Stakeholder (Client)
satisfaction which will drive
improved revenue (Finance).

Perspectives tell the Business Process
value creation story.

Learning and Innovation 9
The projected net revenue target for FY 2016/17 is UGX 13.86Tn

NEWS

URA GETS NEW BOARD MEMBERS

The Minister of Finance, Planning and
Economic Development has appointed Dr
Simon Kagugube as our new Chairman of the
Board of Directors with effect from 12th July,
2016 to 11th July, 2019. The Minister also
appointed Mrs Loy Tumusiime as a member
of the Board.

SIMON KAGUGUBE - BOARD CHAIRMAN Dr Simon Kagugube served as Director of
Nation Media Group since September 22,
LOY TUMUSIIME - Member 2011. He holds a Doctorate of the Science
of Law (JSD) in International Humanitarian,
10 Immigration, Refugees and Asylum Law and a
Masters of Laws in Corporation Law, Taxation
and International Trade Systems, all from Yale
University (USA) and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
from Makerere University, Uganda. He is an
Advocate of the High Court of Uganda.

The composition of our Board of Directors is
therefore as follows:

1. Dr Simon Kagugube Chairman
2. Mr Nicholas Okwir Member
3. Mrs Loy Tumusiime Member
4. Mr Keith Muhakanizi Member (PS/ST)
5. Amb Julius Onen Member (PS MTIC)
6. Ms Doris Akol Member (CG)

NEWS

URA tops Government agencies in

ICT Innovation Awards

By Benon Tugumisirize
Uganda Revenue Authority has been awarded Uganda’s best organization that provides e-Government
services. This was during the 2016 Annual Communications Innovation Awards (ACIA). We beat eleven
other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that were nominated in the same category.
The award category was a special one, being the first since the introduction of the ACIA Awards in 2010 and
unlike the other categories; the winner was decided by a public vote.

11

NEWS

Other government MDAs that were
nominated in the category include; The
Education Service Commission,Inspectorate
of Government (IGG), Ministry of Education,
Science, Technology and Sports, Ministry
of Energy and Mineral Development,
Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic
Development (MoFPED), Ministry of
Gender, Labour and Social Development
(MoGLSD), Ministry of Lands, Housing and
Urban Development (MoLHUD), National
Medical Stores (NMS), National Social
Security Fund (NSSF), National Water
and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)
We presented “AskURA”, an app that
leverages the proliferation of the mobile
platforms to provide efficient, fast and
convenient service delivery solutions. The
app is also complimented by a Mobile
Tax Payment solution that allows
taxpayers to pay taxes using
mobile payments and point
of sale terminals hence
eliminating obstacles to
tax compliance.

ACIA awards are
organised annually
by the Uganda
Communication
Commission.

12

Congratulations!

Mr. Begumisa Protazio
(CIAC)

on your election as

President

of the Institute of
Certified Public
Accountants

of Uganda (CPAU)

Leaders are like Eagles large or consumed with
they dont fly with itself not to assist
the flock; they explore new another Eagle in
hieghts and distress....and thats
challenge themselves and what
others to soar makes an Eagle a true
beyond the norm. yet an Leader! So spread
eagle is never too your wings and SOAR!

Mr Begumisa is the Commissioner Internal 13
Audit and Compliance Department.

NEWS

URA WEBPORTAL APPRECIATED

Thank you Irene for sharing this information with us.
To the team that made/continues to make the URA web portal what it is, please receive
compliments from the OECD secretariat (see emails below).
14

NEWS

From: Bashabe Kyomuhendo Irene Kind regards
Sent: 13 July 2016 07:12
To: Gladys Ndyanabo Nuwagira Irene K. Bashabe|Assistant Commissioner
Cc: Tax Investigations Department Tax Investigations
management Tax Investigations Department|Uganda
Subject: FW: CA Revenue Authority
Dear Gladys and team, Office: +256 417 442077 | Cell: +256 717
Compliments to you and your team that 442013
have put up URA’s website from the OECD http://ura.go.ug Twitter@URAuganda
Secretariat. Facebook@URApage
Regards
Irene K. Bashabe|Assistant Commissioner From: [email protected]
Tax Investigations [mailto:[email protected]]
Tax Investigations Department|Uganda Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 11:48 AM
Revenue Authority To: Bashabe Kyomuhendo Irene
Office: +256 417 442077 | Cell: +256 717 Cc: EOI
442013 Subject: RE: CA
http://ura.go.ug Twitter@URAuganda
Facebook@URApage Dear Irene,
From: Bashabe Kyomuhendo Irene
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2016 7:09 AM Well noted, I found them in the Legal and
To: ‘[email protected]’ Policy section.
Subject: RE: CA Also a big compliment for your beautiful
Dear Boudewijn website!
Thank you for the Compliments in respect
to our website. Best regards,

Boudewijn

From: Bashabe Kyomuhendo Irene
[mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 11 July, 2016 10:08 AM

15

NEWS Kind regards
Irene K. Bashabe|Assistant Commissioner Tax
To: VAN LOOIJ Boudewijn, CTP/GF Investigations
Cc: EOI Tax Investigations Department|Uganda
Subject: CA Revenue Authority
Dear Boudewijn, Office: +256 417 442077 | Cell: +256 717
Among the issues you raised in our peer 442013
review report was the details of Uganda’s http://ura.go.ug Twitter@URAuganda
competent authority which you could not Facebook@URApage
find on our web page.
Please note that they are placed under Tax
Topics – D.
However for ease I have requested our IT
team to have them moved to the Legal
and Policy section where the the DTAs
are.
You can check for them now before they
are moved and in case you can’t find them
then recheck under our Legal and Policy
section of our page just in case they have
been moved already.
In case you have a specific place on our
website you advise we have them, that
guidance too will be appreciated.

16

The Taxman snoops are looking for the first 10
people to get the answer right.

Qn. What was URA’s first corporate
strategic plan?

Kindly send your answers to the address below
[email protected],ug

A great award awaits you.

17

Thank you very much! To every one who
took part in the survey below.

18

ADVERTISE WITH US

Do you need
professionally done
business cards?

Contact Benon
Tugumisirize:
email btugumisirize@
ura.go.ug

A pack of 100 cards
costs 25K Uganda
shillings.

19

IRENE BASHABE

WE HAVE NEW MANAGEMENT!

I AM AN ALL-ROUNDER - KYOMUHENDO

The newly appointed Assistant Commissioner
Tax Investigations has attributed her success
to teamwork. Irene Kyomuhendo Bashabe says
she has worked with URA since 1995. “I have
noticed that unity is power and as a team player,
I attribute all my success to teamwork” said
Kyomuhendo.

“Team work has helped me understand the
people I work with, my supervisors and above all
the nature of my work amidst challenges.” She
added

Kyomuhendo is one of the few URA officials that
joined in 1995 straight from the University in the
mass recruitment.

What drives you?

I am basically driven to work in order to add value
to myself, for a positive change and add impact.

Our mandate at TID is to investigate suspected
fraud among taxpayers, prosecute them and levy
heavy penalty if found guilty.

20

IRENE BASHABE

How is a typical day like for you? that include intelligence, investigations, Science
and forensics.
Every day of mine is very busy. I on a daily basis
report to office at exactly 6am. It helps me get My plan is to see these specialized teams grow
some quiet time. I get some time with my lord, and be able to detect, deter and pursue tax
check my mails. At 7:30 am, everyone at office criminals.
has something to present and a session goes up
to 8:30. We found out that the issues discussed My plan is to do this timely. We live in a dynamic
help in the growth of our department. world.

I move with a notebook wherever I go and make I am looking at strengthening our intelligence
sure I jot down a few challenges of the day. arm by deploying regionally but because of the
When I get home at 5:00pm or much late than, limited numbers, we have only deployed in the
I track the challenges I faced during the day East though we would wish all regions covered.
and devise ways on how to curb them as my
children are do their homework. We are looking at strengthening the forensics
and science units, and to have equipped
I am trained to work amidst interruption, that’s laboratories. This will help support other
why my children cannot be an excuse. departments and external stake holders.

Tell us about your Career journey in URA We have intensified use of scientific investigative
techniques to determine the proper sales and
I have been an all-rounder in URA because, purchases being declared. We have leveraged
I have done challenging work in Customs, strategic partnerships with both local and
Audit, Domestic Taxes and currently TID. Audit international partners i.e. working closely with
requires one to think a lot creatively and to also financial intelligence Authority helping identify
be challenged. concealed income.
Above all I seek the grace of God.
We are emphasizing joint tax bodies with other
What plans do you have to make your revenue authorities to get first-hand information.
Division shine?
Interview by Benon Tugumisirize
TID is comprised of specialized functional areas

21

JAMES ODONG JAMES ODONG IS THE
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
22 SERVICE
MANAGEMENT UNDER
DOMESTIC TAXES

What has your career journey in URA been,
a brief summary of the positions you have
held?

IJoined URA in 2000 and straight away went
for PODITRA for about two years. After the
training, my first assignment was to execute
the Domestic VAT Project in Customs.

I was immediately posted in the Customs Long
room where I worked for about two years.

During those years, changes were quite
frequent in the structural arrangements of the
organization and when the Domestic Indirect
Department (DIT) was introduced, I was posted
there and immediately the Commissioner
posted me to the Audit Division as an auditor
for VAT. I performed this role up to the time of
restructuring in 2005.

In 2005, all Domestic Taxes functions were
merged under were one Department. I was

JAMES ODONG

posted to Kampala Central where I continued What should we expect from your expertise
working as an auditor till 2007 when I was posted in your tenure as the new AC Service
to Kampala East, and then Tax Audit (Head Management?
Quarters) in 2008. In June 2008, I was appointed
Business Process Re-engineering expert (BPR) When you look at the life cycle of a taxpayer,
in the BPR Workgroup in the Domestic Taxes ideally one is supposed to register for taxes,
Modernisation Project and undertook the fulfil his core obligations of filling under the
business process reengineering work of the respective tax heads and making the respective
processes in Domestic Taxes up to 2011.

In 2011, I was appointed Manager in DT but “The winning formula, first of“
before I could go for my new posting in Mbale, all trusting in God’s guidance;
I was appointed Project Manager ITSEP. My
assignment as PM ITSEP ended in October
2015.

I was immediately redeployed to Process everything is possible.
Management and given a new assignment on the
Structural Review Team and this is the time I was payments or claiming refunds! When one does
eventually appointed AC Service Management. this accurately, then that taxpayer may never
That is my journey! fall within the ambit of compliance enforcement!
I am “mission hungry” to keep taxpayers within
What is your winning formula at work? this area! That would mean reliance on normal
flow for revenue and less work for enforcing
The winning formula, first of all trusting in God’s compliance!!
guidance; everything is possible. Secondly
embracing the core values of the organization Interview by Susan Kamugasa Muyiyi 23
namely Integrity, teamwork, respect and
excellence. They become part of you as you
execute assignments!

STELLA NYAPENDI

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER BOARD AFFAIRS,
POLICY AND RULINGS

Who is Stella?

Stella is a lawyer by profession who has been in the service of URA since 2nd
August 2005 currently serving as Assistant Commissioner Board Affairs, Policy
and Rulings, in the Legal Services and Board Affairs Department. She was born and
grew up within the precincts of Kampala in Mulago with the mother employed as a
nurse in Mulago hospital, her father was at the time employed as an educational officer
who worked in Ministry of Education which was housed in Crested Towers, as Stella
pursued her primary education in the nearby Shimoni Demonstration School. She is a
mother of two boys and a third born in a family of six children, with three qualified as
lawyers, a Doctor, an economist and I.T specialist.
She holds a Degree in Law (LLB) from Makerere University, A postgraduate Diploma in
Legal practice from the law Development Centre, A Master’s Degree (LLM) in Oil and
Gas law from Robert Gordon University Scotland, Currently pursuing an International
Master’s leadership Program from the Global Entrepreneurship Institute in the USA,
and ICSA.
She serves as a Board Member in URA’s representative capacity at the Uganda Free
Zones Authority an institution which holds the mandate to boost exports and increase
Uganda’s export Earnings, Member of the Uganda Law Society, East African Law
Society, and the Institute of Corporate Governance.
Stella is a philanthropist with a heart for widows and orphans and seeks to promote the
welfare and transform lives. “I do this under the auspices of Divine Purpose Ministry
where I serve as Ministry advisor. Our mission is to transform lives. We look after the
vulnerable using our God given resources, we conduct medical camps for the widows
and orphans and offer financial support to the Orphanage- God’s Grace Orphanage.”

She is also a seasoned farmer. “I tend to a fish farm on the
shores of Lake Albert, I am making some attempts at goat
farming I am also a mushroom farmer I have with some
clientele within the URA circles.”

What drives you to work daily?

My presence in URA is defined my Employee –Employer
Contract between URA which stipulates my terms and
conditions of service. Performance of my job role is hence
determined by a number of factors.
My most dominant personality trait is passion, I commits
100% to everything I do, the reward for me in performing

24 my divisional mandate is the honour and satisfaction that

comes from a job excellently done, i.e. issuing a legally

STELLA NYAPENDI

grounded opinion, a well drafted contract . The Department has been variously voted the best in house
The support of a great team: I lead a great high impact team, law firm in Uganda, the Board Affairs Division can only work
no leader can be at the helm without standing on strong to raise the standard higher. I look to steering the Division to
shoulders, if a leader does not stand on strong shoulders, the see to it that the Legal Department remains a model in house
body is bound to collapse. law firm.
Tax law implementation is facing challenges arising from
What I would be if I was not a lawyer aggressive tax planning, complex tax structures and generally
schemes that go beyond the spirit of the law hence the need to
I would have been many things if I was not a lawyer, I would recommend for reforms to ensure that the tax regime is aligned
have been a Marketer I have a passion for marketing anything to best practice in both the regional and global context.
to anyone. We will put in place a roadmap and implement the same to
I would have been a high end personal shopper since I find steer reforms in the Ugandan tax regimes by closing loopholes
a thrill in shopping, and whatever goes with it like trying on that aid illicit financial flows.
clothes. Shopping and not necessarily for myself is beyond Roll out Contract management guidelines and automate the
doubt a proven stress reliever. contract management process, and streamline the role of
I would have been a dancer, I love to dance, all manner of every Contract Manager and vouch for incorporation of the
dance, just play the tune and I will find the move. same at the point of Contract Management.
I would have been a photographer – each time I go to a new Augment the Divisional research function, we are currently
place, my eyes rove around for a spot to take a good picture, I doing second level reviews for the research papers published
simply love photographing and being photographed. by Research and Planning.
I would have been a preacher, I love preaching the word of On the Board Side and in partnership with our very competent
God because the word of God is life and indeed food for the I.T developers will recommend for adoption the E-Board a
soul. I recently returned from a mission in South Sudan. software that will ease the process of convening minutes end
to end.
My career path in URA Proactive risk management driven from the inside to deal with
risks and contain any potential crisis.
I have had a progressive career since I joined URA on 2nd Ensuring legal cover through patenting and copyrighting URA’s
August 2005 as an officer in the Legal Services and Board
Affairs Department and placed in the Board Affairs Division. innovative works such as the URA app to avoid infringement.
In March 2009, I was appointed Supervisor Budget and
Planning. Health tips,
In March 2011, I was appointed Manager Policy and Rulings
And in March 20I6, I was appointed to my current position of You don’t have to necessarily go to the gym to keep fit,
Assistant Commissioner Board Affairs, Policy and Rulings, in dancing, praying (this is a form of recommendation), skipping,
the same year in the month of May I was appointed one of five these are all home remedies for keeping fit within the comfort
Board Members in the Uganda Free Zones Authority. of your home. These have worked for me I actually break into
dance in my house when a fine tune plays. Eat healthy and of
Plans to make the division shine course take a lot of water.

The Board Affairs, Policy and Rulings Division is one of two Recommended readings.
divisions in the Legal Services and Board Affairs Department.
• The Seven Vows of Success by Bernie Terrence and
Nestor Ocha.
• The Unemployed Millionaire by Matt Morris.

Interview by Immaculate Wanyetse 25

JOSEPH MWANGALA Joseph Mwangala Mugabi
Assistant Commissioner
26
Customs Audit

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

Making a difference. I do not like
routine. Although we were operating
manually in the Audit Unit, I devised a
solution with the help of James Kiiza
(AC IT) to improve the method of
motor vehicle temporary importation
call TEVIS; Temporary Vehicle Import
and Export System.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE IT WITH
OTHER SOCIAL LIFE

There is a lot to do but again you have
to create time for yourself and family.
That is why I avoid carrying work
home during the weekend.
WORK JOURNEY IN URA

In 2004, I applied to join URA. I
was appointed customs audit
officer. I later joined the Domestic
Taxes department. I later joined the

JOSEPH MWANGALA

Customs Department to work on the ASYCUDA but planning correctly, profiling the audit cases
program, till my current job placing. It has been correctly and targeting correctly.
a 12 years journey. It is really about working smarter and monitor
and encourage our staff to monitor themselves.
WHAT THINGS DON’T PEOPLE KNOW ARE THERE ANY CHALLENGES YOU FACING
ABOUT YOU? IN YOUR NEW ROLE?
I am interested in motor cross biking. I am also
the vice president of Mbale Sports Club. I cannot say there are insurmountable challenges
SO, WHICH BOOKS DO YOU READ? but some of challenges are normal organisation
challenges. We have as a division have three
When it comes to books, I have a belief that cars which are working but remember, we have
anything written be it rocket science, I can to audit 275 companies. But this does not mean
understand it. we fail to meet our targets.
But my major books have been on computing.
I taught myself computing, programming, data WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THE
management, web programming. I always get JUNIOR STAFF BASING ON BASING ON
those huge books from Aristotle, read them and YOUR EXPERIENCE IN URA?
practice.
When you have a task, do it with your heart you
When I was younger, I used to read novels, but never know when you will get a reward. Some
now, I read personal books, self-improvement, people do things because they want their bosses
and spiritual improvement like Joyce Meyers. to notice them for a reward or a promotion.
People should not put focus on these temporary
WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE things. Take an example, if you are seven officers
DIVISION? and maybe, they have advertised a position of a
supervisor, all of you cannot be supervisors. You
The major issue we are looking at as a division may not get this position but your reward may be
is improving the productivity of our auditors something else.
while looking at per capita collections. This
increase does not mean putting in a lot of time Interview by Paul Tajuba

27

ROBINAH NAKAKAWA ROBINAH NAKAKAWA
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
28 LARGE TAXPAYER’S OFFICE
UNDER DOMESTIC TAXES,
AC LTO

What drives you?
I have always had a passion for work and I always put
my best in everything I do. My appointment as AC LTO
coupled with the functional mandate to collect over
30 percent of URA’s revenue target challenges me to
perform. I strive to be an exemplary leader knowing
that I have staff that look up to me. My accountability
is not limited to only my superiors but also to the staff
who provide me with invaluable support.

How is a typical work day like?
Every day is different. Our responsibilities vary
depending on the time of the financial year. Some days
are centered more around scheduled engagements and
impromptu meetings. These are usually with taxpayers,
staff, and management. Meetings with clients are
sometimes for client relationship management while
others are for managing compliance. Meetings with
staff are more for planning, review and strategizing
to meet the division mandate. The same applies to
management meetings. There is also work involving
strategic planning and coordination of activities.

Tell us about your Career journey in URA
I Joined URA in June 2000 as an Assistant Revenue

ROBINAH NAKAKAWA

Officer and following one year of the Post Graduate What Plans do you have to make your Division
Diploma is Tax Administration (PODITRA) training shine?
I emerged 2nd best student overall. I worked in the
Large Taxpayers Department as a refunds officer • Pay special attention to large taxpayers
before the department was disbanded in 2002. I was needs through increased client
deployed as a refund officer in the Domestic Indirect relationship management. Undivided
Taxes Department where I acted from time to time as attention to purely the large taxpayers
a reviewing officer and later was promoted to Acting excluding government entities in the
Senior Revenue Officer in July 2004 and briefly acted LTO category.
as team leader in Domestic Indirect Taxes Department
until the restructuring in 2005. I was appointed • Champion a sector/industry approach
Supervisor General Audit in LTO in May 2005 where towards compliance management to
I pioneered the audit of oil and gas companies. Five obtain a better understanding of the large
years later I was appointed Manager Natural Resource taxpayers and design sector specific risk
Management and set up the unit under LTO before my mitigation measures.
appointment as AC LTO.
• Pay special focus on the High Net worth
5 things that people do not know about you. Individuals by utilizing more intelligence
• I skipped a class in primary and information and carrying out more
therefore graduated one year ahead of research.
my contemporaries.
• While growing up, my dream was to pursue a • Strengthen the International Tax Unit
career in banking. to manage transfer pricing abuses,
• Contrary to my career dream, on the day international tax challenges and
I sat for my last paper in my final year aggressive tax planning schemes.
examinations at the university, I also wrote
my very first job application letter to URA for • Increase staff morale through rotations
an Assistant Revenue Officer position. I was within the division among others.
not successful on that first attempt though.
• My love for shopping while on overseas • Improve staff competence through well
travels earned me a nick name “shop till you targeted on job training.
drop”
The Book I am reading
The End of Average: how we succeed in the world
that values sameness by Todd Ross

Interview by Benon Tugumisirize 29

AGNES NABWIRE WHO IS AGNES
NABWIRE
30
SHE burst onto the scene like an artiste
with a hot new song.
Due to the nature of her work, Agnes
Nabwire immediately interacted with
the media a lot. The interactions soon
after the promotion, thrust the recently-
appointed Assistant Commissioner (AC)
Enforcement into the limelight.

Ascending to the Division’s helm was a
homecoming for Nabwire. She was hired
in 1999 when she became a member
of the then Special Revenue Protection
Service.

She was fresh from school-Makerere
University-where she graduated with a
Bachelor of Science degree.
Nabwire’s first salary was not much-about
sh500, 000. Unlike colleagues, who
exploited their positions to amass wealth,
she chose to do the right thing- upgrade
academically. She chose to pursue an
ACCA course.
“I often got salary advances, which I used
to pay school fees. Some of my friends

AGNES NABWIRE

wondered why I was struggling with studies yet I wants to be “in charge”.
worked with customs,” Nabwire stated. Nabwire cites Galatian 6:7 (a man reaps what he
Because of strong values, which saw her desist from sows) as a key virtue on the journey of life. Indeed,
corrupt tendencies, Nabwire was retained after the her “harvest” is testimony to what she “sowed”.
massive 2005 restructuring. Thereafter, she was In spite of the several years in URA, only a handful
posted to Mbale and later Entebbe (cargo business know that Nabwire is a pastor. She preaches at Living
centre) where she was the supervisor assessments. World Assembly located along Lumumba Avenue,
Earlier in 2006, as the curtain fell on the ACCA Kampala.
course, Nabwire had expressed interest in joining
the Customs Audit team. That wish was granted The church, which is run by her husband, has a
in 2007 when she was appointed Supervisor Audit branch in Bweyogerere, a city suburb.
(refunds). Four years later, she became a Manager, “I know everything ends and starts with God. It is
a position she held until she was appointed Assistant what gives me hope otherwise some can become
Commissioner. hopeless,” Nabwire states.
For that reason, she often reads Christian literature
“It has been a journey of learning and many including the Bible. While still studying, books on
experiences. Customs has given me knowledge of accounting were often in her bags.
how to deal with people and documents,” Nabwire Nabwire has big plans for the Enforcement Division.
stated, adding, “I thank God for the journey.” These include ensuring that 90% of their work is
Listening to her, I am impressed by her resolve and “intelligence led”.
so I ask, “What drives you?” She argues, “Unless you have information from all
Nabwire responds, “I consider working with Uganda business areas, you may not do much. You must
Revenue Authority a calling from God. It is a mandate have information from the source throughout the
God has given me until I hear him say the time is up.” supply chain.”
However, the state of “our economy” and the country’s
continued dependence on donors also drives her. The other plan is ensuring that compliance increases
She is desirous of a situation in which people comply via continued integrity publicity, prosecution of
without duress. offenders, who must pay penalties.
On her work ethic, Nabwire says integrity is key. Stakeholder sensitisation and training staff are also
According to her, if “your hands are clean, you don’t
fear to face anything.” prominent on her plan.
That, she argues, is a good principle for anyone, who
Interview by Herbert Ssempogo
31

MATHEW MUGABE

Mathew’s is a tale of grace, favor & total submission to the
will of God in one’s journey towards self realization.

MATHEW MUGABI EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Mathew Stephen Mugabi is the ExecutiveAssistant
TO THE COMMISSIONER GENERAL to the Commissioner General. A position that
requires an individual to be as knowledgeable about
the organization as he is alive to its stakeholders. His
job is such a demanding one that his gadgets buzzed
a record 31 times during the hour-long interview I
had with him. Office receiver, tablet, mobile phone
& his laptop all screaming for his attention in equal
measure.

Education

Mathew spent his infancy in Germany but returned
to Uganda. He received primary education from
Kampala Parents School, O- Level education from
Kings College Budo and A-Level education from
Makerere High.

Mathew was inspired by the legendary Ugandan
Judge Wakho Wambuzi. This inspiration guided
his decision when it came to choice of university &
undergraduate degree course. He thereby pursued
a Bachelor’s Degree in Law at Uganda Christian
University graduating in 2004. He took on the post
graduate diploma in Law at LDC graduating in 2005.
In 2014 he attained a Masters degree in Oil & Gas

32 Law from The Robert Gordon University,Aberdeen

MATHEW MUGABE

Scotland on a scholarship opportunity provided by agreed nonetheless. All he wanted was to experience
URA. the life of a legal practioner. In the meantime he had
just had oral interviews with URA.
Professional life

Mathew remembers the time between LDC graduation Payday came. Mathew decided to offer half his salary
and his first job very vividly. The time spanned several in church in celebration of what the lord had done in
months, almost a year. It was a trying period for jobs his life. Three weeks later, that familiar call from HR
were not forth coming. He sat for several interviews came and Mathew’s journey with URA commenced.
but luck was not on his side. During this hunt for that He was strolling lazily along Jinja road when the
elusive job, he devised means of survival. Mathew call came through and he rushed to HR to pick his
prepared “daddies” every morning and sealed them appointment letter. He read the name a couple of
in various packages of UGX 200 /= and UGX 500/=. times to be absolutely sure it was his. His face still
He sold his merchandise on the dusty streets of illustrates the joy he felt back then for his salary
Kampala to make a living. That experience taught had been multiplied tenfold. “Such is the amazing
him lessons in financial discipline, faith, humility work of God Solomon. Try him,” he said with a lot of
and most importantly it gave his confidence levels a conviction.
mighty surge.
URA Journey.

During this job seeking spree, he frequented one Mathew made his URA debut as a Litigation Officer
particular law firm in request for a job. The senior in 2006. 2 years on he received a promotion to the
partner would always make that “we shall call you position of Supervisor Litigation. 2 and half years
when an opportunity arises” declaration. Any person later, he rose higher to the position of Manager VAT
who has done some job seeking knows that the and Income Tax Litigation.
declaration is often times purely promissory and Mathew attributes his progression to passion for
nothing more. However, this senior partner eventually innovation, value addition and the grace of God. His
called and asked about Mathew’s readiness to work. passion and innovation were best illustrated during
Within a heartbeat Mathew was in the law firm for the E-Litigation project which he was at the fore front
the decisive meeting. They discussed the terms of of alongside the current Assistant Commissioner
employment and agreed about a humble salary of Litigation; Ali Sekatawa. Mathew also recounts the
UGX250, 000/=. It was a humble fee but Mathew
33

MATHEW MUGABE

moment his logo submission was elected as the A sneak Peak into Mathew’s Day
official E-tax logo with pride. That win came with a
cash prize of 3 million Ugx, a state of the art watch Mathew’s work is guided by the CG’s schedule. He
from Tata plus a certificate. always starts his day with a devotion then he takes
a glimpse at the calendar, flagging off accomplished
He also remembers fondly the time he travelled tasks. He is always a day or two ahead of schedule
with senior URA personnel to the USA to study the in his work plan. Strategic meetings across divisions
Balance Score Card. He was still an officer. The are part of his daily life. He also receives a lot of drop-
study trip came with thousands of dollars in upkeep. in clients. He pays close attention to staff. URA staffs
Unaware of the fact that this was his money to spend, are his priority clients.
Mathew collected receipts for every item he spent
on in the name of returning the receipts to Uganda After work, Mathew always has one thing on his mind.
for accountability. It was only during the last days of Family. He cherishes every moment he spends with
the American adventure that he was notified that the his wife and children. He reads about 3-4 books at a
money was his to burn. He went on a shopping spree time. These books are determined by the experience
in a bid to burn the money on American turf. he is going through in real time. He is not much of a
TV person but when he does watch some thing on TV,
In 2010, he was elected as the employee of the it is motivational. You can always find him watching
year, an accolade that came with a trip for 2 to any T.D Jakes or Joel Osteen’s shows.
destination in the region plus 500 US Dollars to burn.
A trip he enjoyed with his wife. 5 surprising facts about Mathew

Mathew’s biggest moment in his URA journey came 1. Mathew is an accomplished teacher. He has
last year in July when he was appointed to an AC lectured the Law class at Uganda Christian
position as the Executive Assistant to the CG. A University in Tax law. He is the kind of
position that has given him a lot of growth and teacher that connects with his students. He
learning opportunities as an individual because of the subscribes to the learner centric model of
nature of work. teaching.

34 2. Mathew is an evangelist. Such is his love for

MATHEW MUGABE
“ After work, Mathew always
Christ that he can’t go 20 minutes without has one thing on his mind. “
testifying about how much God has done in Family. He cherishes every
his life. He takes part in a school outreach
program that takes the gospel to young
people in secondary schools.

3. Mathew is an outstanding athlete. Mathew moment he spends with his
has been a King on the track in the 100 wife and children.

meters and 200 meters distances. Call him

Mathew Bolt. He dominated secondary

school races and continued to dominate at 3rd year, he retained his seat. He was even

UCU and he has a number of certificates to appointed to a ministerial position which

show for his accomplishments. He is also he held till graduation. He picked a lot of

terrific basket baller who captained his high leadership skills from UCU.

school basketball team. He also captained

the UCU basketball team just before it 5. Mathew the charitable guy. He enjoys the

became the Professional UCU Canons look of a surprised face. Mathew might look

Basketball Club it is today. reserved but in actual sense he is deeply

interactive. He takes a lot of satisfaction

4. Mathew is a phenomenal politician. This in surprising others with simple acts of

ostensibly introverted gentleman became kindness. Once in a while he will randomly

involved in university politics much to the offer someone a gift just to enjoy seeing the

shock of his class mates. In his 2nd year look of pleasant surprise on the individual’s

at UCU, he contested the position of MP face. He seats on the board of two charity

Non-residents against the incumbent. With organizations one as a chairperson the other

the support of his friends who cheered him as a board member. Matthew summarized

on, he executed fully fledged campaigns the interview with a resounding quote:

that made up for lack of deep pockets

with abundance in rich ideas. Ideas that “Where you are coming from has no bearing on where

resonated with the electorate. Indeed he you are going.” Mathew Stephen Mugabi.

beat the incumbent to the position. In his 35
By Solomon Kimbugwe.

URA TOWER

URA Tower: giving women hope

DUST! A nuisance to everyone since it dirties
places and sometimes causes ill-health.
Despite it being having no value to humans, it is
putting meals on the tables of some women at
Uganda Revenue Authority.
Indeed, instead of frowning, whenever dust
gathers on the rising URA Headquarter Building,
Harriet Nabirye, Sylvia Nakyesa and five others
are happy because their tools of trade- push
brooms and dustpans will be at work.
The ladies earn a living by keeping the rising
structure tidy, a job they have done close to a
year.
“This job came as a relief. I tried agriculture but
failed yet my children needed to go to school,”
Nabirye says.
Nabirye divorced her husband three years
ago and carried their three children along to
her parents’ home in Iganga District. Similarly,
Nakyesa is a divorcee with two children.
Both women prefer not to talk about the cause
of their divorce but rather their current jobs and
future plans.
“At the completion of this building, we should be
able to do something for ourselves,” Nakyesa
hopes.

36

URA TOWER

“It is something possible. It will be a bad idea holding a degree.
to wakeup everyday early and at the end of “Women should come out and work. You cannot
the project, you go empty handed,” Nabirye seek equality in a marriage when it is one person
interjected meeting all your financial obligations” Adong
With a saving of Shs20, 000 each week, the argues.
women are among the few defying the old public Seyani Brothers Company Limited won the
perception about construction jobs as a preserve contract to build URA Tower that started in
for men. November 2014 and will end in February 2018.
They are hopeful that they will accumulate It will enable URA make immense savings by
enough capital to start-up personal businesses. housing all offices being rented across the city.
Nakyesa states, “I hope at the end of this project, Anil Hirani, the site Engineer told Media Desk
I would have accumulated some capital to start that although they do not underrate women’s
up a restaurant or a boutique for me to continue strength, for now they are restricted to ‘light’
supporting my children.” work.
And for Mary Adong, a graduate of Business Hirani’s list of ‘light’ jobs includes cleaning, store
Administration (Kampala International University) management and clerical work. Although these
working as a store manager at the site is a true women do not earn millions, to them the URA
a representative of many youth who effortlessly Headquarter Building simply means a better life.
look for jobs after graduation.
“I applied in many companies but none called
me. It is until my father connected me to this
company to work as a store manager,” Adong,
who has worked with Seyani Brothers Company
Limited since her graduation in 2013 says.

Adong, married with one child, says although 37
she is “underemployed”, a marriage in which
one partner meets the financial obligations is not
sustainable. And it is the reason she wears her
overall to work at the construction site despite

DOUGLAS

Douglas crashed and
lived to tell the story.

He has kept record of the dates. The date his
car crashed into a passenger van, the dates
he had the various surgeries and the dates he
slowly started recovering. It was on September
14th 2016 at 3pm, in the afternoon when the
event that has shaken his life happened.
“I was traveling from Iganga to Jinja to meet an
informer in my personal car. I saw a notorious
taxi driver heading my way. I flashed my car lights
frantically, the driver continued,” Kabagambe
recalls like it was yesterday.
38

DOUGLAS

The bad driver failed to negotiate fast shattered.
enough to avoid a bus that was in the proper “I could not move. I had not yet fathomed the extent of
lane of the road. Kabagambe did not have the damage to my body. I was lucky that the car had air
many choices, he decided to remain on the bags.”
side of the road where he had been driving.
He was rushed to hospital for 6 hours of surgery. After
“It happened so fast. The taxi driver and I going through the painful surgery, his born did not
crashed head on. All the 8 people died. I connect after 3 months because one of the doctors had
realised that dying can happen to anyone used a weak rod to support his weight.
anything in a flash and there is nothing you
can do about it.”
By God’s grace Kabagambe remained
conscious after the accident. He reached
for his phone and called for help.

“When Hilda one of the people I worked The seemingly minor error saw him go for surgery again.
with at the time saw me, she fainted.” His He was given morphine to nub the pain and a daily
lower left leg was broken. The femur was
39

DOUGLAS as it did when he had just had the accident. The
bones are being held by screws and a metallic
cocktail of drugs including 4 injections, born rod until they grow back naturally.
calcium and blood clot. He did not work for 6 months after the accident.
“There was never a day I felt alone in the Kabagambe was deployed at Entebbe as the
hospital. The staff at Entebbe and some Wild life coordinators of CITIES before a transfer
clearing agents raised money to foot some of to Iganga.
my hospital bills,” he notes. This helped him
not to sink into a depression. The transport Although he is back to work, he has not yet fully
office offered a Fleet Assistant to pick him recovered but he is immensely grateful to God to
from home and take him back after his work be alive. This did not stop him from attempting a
schedule. “Fortunately, my brother offered 6 week’s training in Nakuru which was cut short
to ferry me to and from work. However such because of the pain in his knee cup.
kind gestures kept me going.”
Because his mother suffered a stroke in “I am searching for my purpose. There must be
2009, so a male nurse bathed him every something God wants me to do on this earth,” he
day during the early days of his surgery. ponders.
Life has changed for this young man.
“I was anxious about my leg being chopped! “I am more prayerful and thankful to be alive.
I cannot yet jump or run using my leg.” The accident has indeed impacted me greatly.”
“I plan to throw a grand thanksgiving party soon.
He has had to undergo physiotherapy which I am getting married next year and starting a
is very expensive. This has been the case family immediately,’’’ Kabagambe who now
since early 2015. holds a desk job in the Customs Department at
Nakawa reveals.
“I spend 50,000/= daily on physiotherapy. I
have now limited the exercises to 3 days a As told to Susan Muyiyi
week.”

Kabagambe now walks with a limp in his left
leg which he says still hurts but not as bad

40

We thought to remind you of some
customer care tips.

41

HUMOR CORNER

Our very own
Immaculate
Wanyetse tried
out the M7
challenge.

42

SPORTS

We have a new URA FC team.

Members and fans of URA soccer club went James Kizza got 44, while Sekatawa got 239
to polls to elect their new leadership in a votes. Soon after emerging the victor as per
hotly contested position of chairmanship of the the regulations of Federation of Uganda football
club. association (FUFA), Sekatawa immediately
Ali Sekatawa who has been the outgoing club announced his seven member committee.
chairman retained the seat after overwhelmingly
beating James Kizza, AC Information
Technology who was the other contender.

43

SPORTS

Chairman –Ali Sekatawa
Vice - Moses Kibumba
General secretary- Moses Kaduyu Niola
Director Marketing- James Kizza
Communications Director- Drani Xavia Francis
Fans Director – John Amigo Pule
Technical Director-Geoffrey Kayondo
Director Administration Daniel Omara
By Benon Tugumisirize

44

THE GRANDE URA @ 25 CELEBRATORY JOURNEY 2016

S/N Event Date Required

1 The warm visits to our 1st-30th Aug, All URA Managers, MTO staff and MTO

Medium Taxpayers 2016 Taxpayers

2 General thanksgiving for 15th Sept, Invited guests and All staff
URA and unveil a silver 2016
jubilee commemorative A combined faith thanksgiving at
plaque. Nakawa HQ.

4 URA heartfelt CSR Day 20th Sept All URA Staff / All URA stations
2016

5 The Cozy LTO Cocktail 23rd Sept, All Senior Management Members, LTO
2016 staff and LTO Taxpayers

6 The Beautiful URA@25 26th-29th Sept, All URA Staff, All URA Taxpayers and

Open House 2016 the general Public.

H.E The President of Uganda

7 URA @ 25 Dinner 30th Sept, The Current and all Former Ministers
2016 of Finance, Planning and Economic
Development, All Former and Current
URA Board Members.

All Invited Guests

45 45