Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has refuted allegations circulating in the media and raised in Parliament regarding an Shs18.2 billion allocation under “medical expenses” in its proposed 2025/26 budget.
During a parliamentary session, Kabula County MP, Enos Asiimwe, sought clarification on whether the funds were intended for the procurement of medicines or for medical insurance coverage for URA staff.
Responding to the concerns, URA spokesperson Mr. Robert Kalumba dismissed any suggestion that the Authority engages in purchasing medicines, explaining that the budget item had been misinterpreted.
“Let’s not mislead citizens. URA has never been in the business of purchasing medicine,” Kalumba stated in a message shared on X (formerly Twitter).
He further clarified that “the figure in question is allocated for workman’s compensation, motor vehicle insurance, insurance for URA equipment, and physical infrastructure across the country.”
Kalumba also addressed media reports that had suggested URA’s so-called “medicine budget” exceeded that of Mulago National Referral Hospital.
He criticized the publications for failing to verify their claims with URA before publishing.
“URA has nothing entitled ‘medicine budget.’ A further check by your team would have revealed that URA does not purchase medicines,” he stated.
According to URA, the confusion appears to have stemmed from the classification of “medical expenses” in the budget documents.
The tax body clarified that the allocation primarily covers staff medical insurance and related welfare provisions, not the purchase of pharmaceuticals or the operation of medical facilities.
Kalumba also raised concerns about misinformation, particularly on social media, where the claims had been widely shared.
URA posted on X, refuting claims that the information being circulated is inaccurate and misleading.
“Please allow us to clarify that the information being shared is incorrect and misleading, especially regarding URA’s expenditure. As such, the comparison made is flawed,” URA stated.
The tax authority further broke down the shs18.2 billion allocated for expenditure:
“We have also clarified with your source (@pwatchug | @centre4policy) that the proposed expenditure is not intended for purchasing medicines, as suggested. Instead, the shs18.2 billion will cover several expenses, including workers’ compensation, motor vehicle insurance for the fleet used to mobilize revenue nationwide, and general insurance for the authority’s equipment and physical infrastructure (buildings) across the country, including at all One Stop Border Points.”
In response to Robert Kalyesubula’s post, URA urged him and the public not to spread misinformation but to help in the fight against fake news.
“We cannot fault you for sharing misinformation, but we kindly ask that you assist us in addressing these misunderstandings,” they concluded.
