The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has rejected a government proposal to grant the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) access to private bank accounts, calling it unconstitutional and a threat to the economy.
The party’s position was revealed by Robert Centenary, the FDC party Vice Chairperson, while speaking to journalists on Monday, October 26th, 2026, at the party headquarters in Najjanankubi.
According to Centenary, the government must drop the plan and answer questions about how URA obtained citizens’ National Identification data.
This comes after the State Minister for Finance, Cissy Mulondo told Parliament last week that the government would press ahead with a proposal to allow URA access to bank accounts of individuals and businesses.
“Ugandans are already struggling with high taxes, unemployment and a high cost of living. They are asked to pay more while the government wants to look into what they earn, save and send to their families. This is the wrong priority,” Centenary said.
He cited Article 27 of the Constitution, which protects Ugandans from interference with privacy and property, and the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019, which requires personal data to be collected and processed with consent.
Centenary alleged that URA has already illegally accessed the National ID Database without citizen consent and has been mapping taxpayers’ NINs to their tax records and blocking portal access for those who have not updated their details.
“Citizens were never asked. Being forced to update or lose access to a service is not consent. Under which law did NIRA release citizens’ records to URA, what exactly has been shared, who can see it, and how is it protected, and what happens to a citizen whose data is leaked or misused?” Centenary asked.
He warned that the move would push money out of banks, arguing that when people believe their accounts are being watched, they withdraw money and keep it at home. This, he said, shrinks deposits that fund loans, businesses and jobs.
However, the URA officials have justified the push to access customer bank accounts as a necessary tool to combat tax evasion, under-declaration of income and untaxed wealth.
The tax body has also relied on Sections 41 and 42 of the Tax Procedures Code Act (2014), which grant the Commissioner General powers to request information for tax administration and enforcement purposes.
Centenary said while paying tax is a duty, privacy is a right, and FDC will oppose the proposal in Parliament and, if necessary, in court.
