The Uganda Revenue Authority has sacked its Commissioner for Customs, Hajji Asadu Kisitu Kigozi, and Assistant Commissioner for Integrity, Compliance and Ethics, James Abola, following internal disciplinary proceedings over corruption, fraud and abuse of office. Robert Kalumba, the URA's Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs, confirmed the dismissals, stating that both were terminated on corruption-related grounds. The removals expose vulnerabilities in the administration of customs and tax compliance that the URA said had undermined revenue collection.
Kigozi faced multiple allegations spanning 2025 and 2026. According to the disciplinary findings, he was accused of soliciting a Shs309 million bribe in 2025 from clearing agent Timothy Ssegane. He was also accused of concealing compliance information and the actual tax liability of Master Grain Milling Ltd in 2025, an action that resulted in significant revenue loss to the government. The URA found he had facilitated unfair business competition by allowing different tax rates to be applied to similar products. In one case, businessman James Matovu Galusanja allegedly paid Shs19 million in taxes while other taxpayers paid Shs90 million for similar products, a difference of Shs71 million. In 2026, Kigozi was further accused of instructing the clearance of a Rolls-Royce without following correct customs procedures, including proper valuation and payment of applicable taxes. The URA found him guilty of corruption, fraud and other offences.
Abola, who headed the office responsible for promoting ethical conduct and investigating misconduct, was dismissed for gross negligence, aiding and abetting offences, and mishandling fraud investigations. In 2024, he was required to investigate alleged PRN fraud implicating Godfrey Omony and Marvin Kayima but neglected the investigation instead of ensuring the allegations were properly examined. In 2025, while a new team was conducting investigations into the matter, Abola allegedly altered the findings of an investigation report relating to the PRN fraud, despite not being part of the team assigned to carry out the reinvestigation. The URA found him guilty of aiding and abetting offences and gross negligence.
The dismissals arrive at a fraught moment for the URA. Days earlier, the authority faced public embarrassment when a meeting convened by Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki to address trader grievances collapsed. Traders were informed they could not enter the venue with their mobile phones, triggering protests and walkouts. Footage of the confrontation circulated widely on social media, attracting criticism of the authority's stakeholder engagement. The URA defended the security restrictions, saying intelligence indicated some individuals intended to disrupt the meeting. The incident exposed growing tension between the tax authority and sections of the business community over tax enforcement, customs procedures and the cost of doing business.
The dismissals of officials entrusted with customs oversight and internal accountability raise questions about the effectiveness of the URA's anti-corruption safeguards and internal controls. The removal of the Commissioner for Customs is particularly significant given the department's role in protecting government revenue and facilitating international trade. The authority now faces the challenge of demonstrating accountability within its ranks while rebuilding confidence among taxpayers and the business community.