URA Removes Downtown Tax Kiosk Following Public Outcry Over Double Standards
KAMPALA, UGANDA – The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has yielded to public pressure and announced the removal of its controversial container tax office located on a traffic island along Namirembe Road in downtown Kampala.
The decision, confirmed on Sunday evening by Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki, comes just hours after intense online debate accused the tax body and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) of employing double standards in the ongoing city cleanup exercise.
In a statement, Mr. Rujoki confirmed that the temporary structure, situated outside the bustling Kikuubo Lane, will be dismantled by the close of business on Monday, February 23, 2026.
“URA salutes KCCA for the good work being done in the city. The temporary tax office in Kikubo has served its purpose and will be removed by COB tomorrow 23/02/26,” Mr. Rujoki wrote.
The move follows a sweeping operation launched last Friday by KCCA, in partnership with the police and the Ministry for Kampala, which has seen numerous metallic and wooden kiosks dismantled and street vendors evicted from the city center.
Critics were quick to point out the inconsistency of allowing the URA’s roadside container to remain while other temporary structures were being removed. Prominent voices, including journalist Sudhir Byaruhanga and State Minister for Youth and Children’s Affairs Balaam Barugahara, questioned the fairness of the situation.
“For the sake of fairness and consistency, the container currently placed in the area should be removed. Otherwise, the public may perceive double standards in the ongoing efforts to create a smart and secure city for the people of Kampala and the authorities alike,” said Minister Barugahara.
Earlier in the day, URA had defended the kiosk, describing it as a fully functional and strategically located office essential for tax education and handling inquiries from traders in the busy downtown hub. Critics, however, noted that many displaced vendors had also considered their roadside spots equally strategic for their businesses.
In his statement, the Commissioner General apologized for the anxiety the debate had caused. He confirmed that the free taxpayer support services previously offered at the container will now be available at the URA’s new Taxpayer Support Centre, located on the ground floor of Pearl Towers on Kintante Road. He added that the authority is working to establish a closer office within the central business district near Kikubo in the near future.
About The Author
