Officials from Uganda Revenue Authority have been kicked out of a Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) meeting after they showed up without Commissioner General, Doris Akol.
According to Cosase chairperson Mubarak Munyagwa, Akol was had promised she would appear before the committee to answer specific quarries raised last week. This followed a red flag raised in the Auditor General’s 2013/2014 report which noted that government was forced to pay businessman John Imaniraguha Shs63m as a compensation.
Imaniraguha, who owned Fuelex, had his fuel was impounded by URA pending verification. However, while in the custody of Shell Uganda, over 9,000 litres were siphoned. The report also shows under declaration of taxes, uncollected debt and mismanagement of goods impounded by URA officials.
On Tuesday, after Henry Saka, the Commissioner Domestic Taxes introduced his team before the committee, he said Akol was absent since she had traveled to South Africa on a two-week trip.
This left MPs shocked because the meeting was to be based on her would be responses on anomalies highlighted in the said report.
Munyagwa immediately asked Saka why his boss chose to fly to South Africa for a trip other than coming to attend the meeting and answer questions.
“It is quite unfortunate that the Commissioner General, Madam Doris Akol could not make it before the Committee, I don’t know why she chose that but its important to state that matters regarding accountability cannot be delegated,” said Munyagwa.
Unfortunately, Saka was lost for words. Following his silence, Munyagwa asked them to march out until their boss comes back.
“I suggest you march out because Cosase cannot proceed with the sitting URA officials without the Commissioner-General since she is the primary and key witness to all these messes,” he added.
