Kisitu also faced accusations of instructing the clearance of a Rolls-Royce in 2026 without following the required customs procedures, including proper valuation and payment of applicable taxes.
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has dismissed two senior managers following internal disciplinary proceedings that found them culpable of misconduct involving alleged bribery, tax fraud, abuse of office and mishandling of investigations.
The officials are Hajji Asadu Kisitu Kigozi, the former Commissioner for Customs, and James Abola, who headed the Integrity, Compliance and Ethics department.
URA Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs Robert Kalumba confirmed the dismissals, saying they were related to corruption.
“I can confirm the sacking of two commissioners on corruption-related issues,” Kalumba said.
The disciplinary proceedings against the two officials centred on separate incidents spanning 2024, 2025 and 2026, with findings pointing to alleged abuse of authority, interference with investigations and practices that could undermine government revenue collection.
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Sh309m bribery allegation against Customs chief
According to particulars of the disciplinary case, Kisitu faced several accusations relating to his handling of customs operations and tax administration.
One of the allegations concerned an alleged demand for a Sh309m bribe in 2025 from Timothy Ssegane, a clearing agent.
He was also accused of concealing compliance information and the actual tax liability of Master Grain Milling Ltd in 2025, an action that reportedly exposed government to significant revenue losses.
Another charge related to alleged preferential treatment of businesses through the application of different tax rates on similar products between 2025 and 2026.
The disciplinary findings cited the case of businessman James Matovu Galusanja, who allegedly paid Sh19m in taxes while other taxpayers were charged Sh90m for similar products.
The Sh71m difference raised concerns about the consistency of tax assessments and possible preferential treatment in the customs clearance process.
Kisitu also faced accusations of instructing the clearance of a Rolls-Royce in 2026 without following the required customs procedures, including proper valuation and payment of applicable taxes.
URA found him culpable of corruption, fraud and other offences arising from the disciplinary proceedings.
His dismissal is a major development in the authority’s Customs Department, which plays a central role in assessing import duties, regulating cross-border trade and safeguarding government revenue.
Abola accused of frustrating fraud investigations
Abola’s dismissal followed disciplinary findings relating to his handling of internal investigations into alleged fraud involving payment reference numbers (PRNs).
The Integrity, Compliance and Ethics chief was found guilty of gross negligence, aiding and abetting offences and mishandling investigations into alleged misconduct involving URA staff.
In 2024, Abola had been tasked with investigating suspected PRN fraud involving Godfrey Omony and Marvin Kayima.
However, the disciplinary findings indicated that he neglected the assignment instead of ensuring that the allegations were properly investigated.
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The matter resurfaced in 2025 when a new team was constituted to investigate the suspected fraud.
Abola was accused of altering the findings of an investigation report despite not being part of the team specifically appointed to conduct the fresh investigations involving Omony and Kayima.
URA subsequently found him guilty of gross negligence and aiding and abetting offences in connection with his handling of the investigations.
The findings are particularly significant given that Abola headed the department responsible for promoting ethical conduct, investigating staff misconduct and strengthening accountability within the tax authority.
His dismissal raises questions about the effectiveness of internal oversight mechanisms, especially when officials entrusted with enforcing integrity standards are themselves subjected to disciplinary action over alleged misconduct.
Traders’ meeting fiasco adds to URA’s challenges
The dismissals come days after URA faced criticism over a failed engagement with traders convened by Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki.
The meeting had been organised to give traders an opportunity to present grievances affecting their businesses and engage the authority’s leadership.
However, the engagement collapsed after traders were informed that they would not be allowed into the venue with their mobile phones.
The restriction triggered protests, with several traders questioning the decision before abandoning the meeting.
Videos of the confrontation circulated widely on social media, attracting criticism over URA’s handling of stakeholder engagement.
The authority later defended the security arrangements, saying intelligence reports had indicated that some individuals intended to disrupt the meeting and heckle the Commissioner General.
The incident highlighted growing tensions between URA and sections of the business community, which have repeatedly raised concerns about tax enforcement, customs procedures and the cost of doing business.
The latest dismissals put the authority’s internal accountability systems under further scrutiny as it seeks to strengthen revenue collection, tackle corruption and restore confidence among taxpayers and the business community.