Commissioner for Customs, Hajji Asadu Kisitu Kigozi, and Assistant Commissioner for Integrity, Compliance and Ethics, James Abola .
By Joseph Kiggundu
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has confirmed the sacking of its Commissioner for Customs, Hajji Asadu Kisitu Kigozi, and Assistant Commissioner for Integrity, Compliance and Ethics, James Abola .
The sacks followed internal disciplinary proceedings over alleged corruption, fraud and abuse of office.
The dismissals follow findings against the two senior managers over alleged misconduct that undermined revenue collection and exposed weaknesses in the administration of customs and tax compliance.
“I can confirm the sacking of 2 commissioners on corruption related issues,” Mr Robert Kalumba, Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs confirmed on Friday .
Particulars of the disciplinary case against Hajj Kigozi indicate that he was accused of soliciting a Shs309 million bribe in 2025 from Timothy Ssegane, a clearing agent to clear a Rolls-Royce car .
He was also accused of concealing compliance information and the actual tax liability of Master Grain Milling Ltd in 2025, an action that reportedly resulted in significant revenue loss to the government.
In another case spanning 2025 and 2026, Kigozi was accused of facilitating unfair business competition for personal gain by allowing different tax rates to be applied to similar products.
The disciplinary findings specifically cited the case of businessman James Matovu Galusanja, who allegedly paid Shs19 million in taxes while other taxpayers paid Shs90 million for similar products.
The difference of Shs71 million raises questions about the consistency of tax assessments and whether some businesses were receiving preferential treatment at the expense of others.
In 2026, Kigozi was further accused of instructing the clearance of a Rolls-Royce without following the correct customs procedures, including proper valuation and payment of applicable taxes.
URA found him guilty of corruption, fraud and other offences arising from the disciplinary proceedings.
Abola accused of frustrating fraud investigations
Abola, who headed the Integrity, Compliance and Ethics office, was also dismissed following disciplinary proceedings.
Abola was also found guilty of gross negligence, aiding and abetting offences, and mishandling investigations into alleged fraud within URA.
In 2024, he was required to investigate an alleged PRN fraud implicating Godfrey Omony and Marvin Kayima. However, the disciplinary findings indicate that he neglected the investigation instead of ensuring that 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. This was despite not being part of the team specifically assigned to carry out the reinvestigation involving Omony and Kayima.
URA subsequently found him guilty of aiding and abetting offences and gross negligence in the handling of the investigations.
The findings raise questions about the handling of internal fraud investigations, particularly given that Abola headed the Integrity, Compliance and Ethics office, whose mandate includes ensuring accountability and addressing misconduct within the authority.
His removal is significant because the office he headed is directly responsible for promoting ethical conduct, investigating misconduct and strengthening compliance within the tax authority.
The dismissal of the official entrusted with overseeing integrity raises questions about internal accountability and the effectiveness of URA’s anti-corruption safeguards.
Abola’s disciplinary case had also attracted attention in September, when reports emerged that he had been dismissed following a hearing before the URA Board.