John R. Musinguzi has been reappointed as the Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) by President Yoweri Museveni, following his outstanding performance over the past four years.
Musinguzi first took on the role of URA CG in March 2020, succeeding Doris Akol, who had served commendably in the position for nearly five years.
The URA Board has expressed its congratulations to Musinguzi on his reappointment. A statement from the board reads, “The board and staff of Uganda Revenue Authority congratulate Commissioner General – John R. Musinguzi on his remarkable reappointment for another term as a team lead of the URA Family,” a statement from the URA Board reads in part.
It adds: “This momentous occasion reflects the unwavering trust and support extended by the President of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, the Honourable Matia Kasaija, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and the esteemed Board of the Uganda Revenue Authority. This collective endorsement underscores a unified commitment to our nation’s fiscal integrity and prosperity. Together, we embark on this continued journey with enthusiasm and a shared vision for a brighter, more prosperous Uganda.”
Under Musinguzi’s leadership, the URA has achieved significant milestones over the past four years. The taxpayer register and revenue collections have seen substantial growth.
In the fiscal year 2022/23, the number of registered taxpayers increased by 882,286, marking a growth of 33.70%. Musinguzi stated in a press briefing about URA’s performance in 2022/23, “By the end of the fiscal year (2022/23), the total number of taxpayers on the register was 3,500,294. Among them, 194,143 were non-individuals, while 3,306,151 were individual taxpayers. The growth is attributed to the success of the Tax Registration Expansion Program (TREP), which used intensive fieldwork and data-driven registrations to achieve these results,”.
In FY 2022/23, URA exceeded its revenue collection target by Shs57.48 billion. The net revenue target for the fiscal year was Shs25,151.57 billion, but the tax body collected Shs25,209.05 billion.
However, the tax-to-GDP ratio remains low at about 14%, and Uganda aims to increase it to 20% to achieve economic independence.
Musinguzi and the URA have received various awards in recognition of their excellent work during his tenure.
In 2023, Musinguzi was honored with the prestigious Always Be Tolerant Organization (ABETO) Africa Award, a distinguished recognition given to individuals who have made significant contributions to their countries.
The Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) also awarded URA and Musinguzi last year for their exceptional efforts in revenue mobilization.
