Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) demands accurate information regarding irregularities.
Officials from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) faced dismissal from a committee meeting after providing inconsistent responses during a probe into the authority’s land procurement process. Led by Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki, the URA officials were questioned by the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) regarding the Auditor General’s report on the authority’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
Expressing frustration over the conflicting statements provided by the URA officials, COSASE Chairperson Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi promptly dismissed them and instructed them to return with more accurate and consistent information.
The dismissal occurred as COSASE delved into irregularities found in the URA’s land procurement, including instances of direct procurement without proper approvals, land acquisition without confirmation of funding, and failure to obtain necessary clearances from the Attorney General.
According to the report, the URA acquired 1.563 hectares of land between 2018 and 2022 through direct procurement, contravening the provisions of the PPDA Act, 2003. The cost of these acquisitions amounted to Shs443.9 million. An additional 0.847 hectares of land were purchased for Shs177.98 million without confirmation of funding, violating Section 59(2) of the same Act. Furthermore, the URA bought a 0.716-hectare plot for Shs265.96 million without obtaining the necessary clearance from the Attorney General, as required by the Constitution of Uganda.
During the meeting, Commissioner for Corporate Services Richard Karisa provided details of the land purchases, mentioning 0.3760 hectares in Mirama Hills, Ntungamo district, 0.716 hectares in Busunga, Bundibugyo district, and 0.4720 hectares in Bunagana, Kisoro, which were acquired for Shs443 million. However, Member of Parliament for Kasilo County, Hon. Elijah Okupa, raised concerns about discrepancies in the provided information, pointing out inconsistencies in the hectares and purchase prices.
Karisa initially stated that the land in Busunga measured 0.3750 hectares before correcting himself and confirming it to be 0.716 hectares. When asked about the correct size of the land in Ntungamo District, Karisa initially mentioned 0.3750 hectares, contradicting his earlier statement.
Chairperson Ssenyonyi expressed disappointment at the URA officials’ lack of organization and consistency in their responses. He emphasized the need for accurate figures, as their varying statements were causing confusion among the committee members.
In light of the officials’ failure to provide clear and consistent information, Chairperson Ssenyonyi dismissed the URA team, instructing them to return on Thursday with better organization and accurate details pertaining to the land procurement.
The dismissal and subsequent demand for accurate information by COSASE signal the committee’s determination to investigate the irregularities in the URA’s land procurement process thoroughly. As the officials regroup and prepare to provide more precise responses, the outcome of this probe will be closely watched, with potential implications for transparency and accountability within the Uganda Revenue Authority.
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