URA moves to Sudhir’s Tower for an annual rent of Shs 18 billion, despite a previous commitment to cut costs.
KAMPALA – The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has moved four key departments from its headquarters in Nakawa to a privately-owned tower in the city centre, in a lease that will cost taxpayers over Shs 18 billion annually.
The relocation to the RR Pearl Tower One, owned by businessman Sudhir Ruparelia’s Speke Hotel (1996) Ltd, was completed recently. The URA has stated the move was necessitated by overcrowding, as its staff numbers have grown to 3,000, and aims to enhance client accessibility.
However, the move has drawn significant criticism due to its high cost and the context of the procurement process. The decision is particularly contentious given that when the URA constructed its own Nakawa headquarters, the authority explicitly stated that the move was intended to save Ugx 7.4 billion in rent annually.
The procurement process for the new office space has been legally challenged. In September 2025, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Appeals Tribunal ordered the URA to re-tender the lease after a rival bidder, TWED Property Development Ltd, successfully appealed the award, citing parking deficiencies in the chosen building.
Despite this tribunal ruling, the URA has proceeded with the lease agreement for the RR Pearl Tower One.
The situation presents a stark contrast: an institution that once invested in its own property to save public money is now committing to one of the most expensive office rentals in the country, even after the procurement was legally contested.
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