President Museveni has created the State House Revenue Intelligence and Strategic Operations Unit to oversee Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) operations and fight corruption within the tax administration system.
The President has also appointed Mr. David Kalemera as a Senior Presidential Advisor and Head of the Unit.
According to a State House press release, creation of the unit will help the Government close revenue leakages and boost tax collection.
In a post on X dated 24 June, 2024, President Museveni revealed that the country was experiencing massive tax evasion.
“There are also some indications that there is massive tax evasion. Uganda’s GDP of US $55bn, should be giving us 20% in taxes. This would be US$11bn or Ug.Sh.48 trillion. Our real budget without debt payments is Ug. Sh.56 trillion,” said Museveni.
He added, “Therefore, the thieves are parasites that must be stamped out, and the indisciplined are saboteurs of our fast development and must also be stopped. This year, our economy grew by 6%. It will grow in double digits if we stamp out thieves and the indisciplined.”
The same day, David Kalemera quoted the President’s post and commented: “All parasites will soon be exposed because there is a lot of taxes the country is losing due to fraud maneuvers and undue influence aided by some corrupt people in the tax administration system.”