The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has failed to collect more than Ugx52 billion in gold exports in 2023.

This is contained in the December 2023 Auditor General’s report, which has highlighted several financial mismanagement gaps within many ministries, departments, and agencies of government.

In the report, the Uganda Revenue Authority was faulted for failing to collect Ugx52.238 billion in gold exports, saying this has denied the government revenue for service delivery.

“The exports in 2021/22 weighed 30,167,582 kg, and those in 2022/23 were 40,648.2 kg, totaling 70,837.91 kg. This translated into USD 14,167,582 equivalent to Shs 52.238 billion that was not collected, contrary to the Mining and Minerals (Export Levy on Refined Gold) Regulations 2023,” the report read.

The report stipulated that the uncollected revenue denies the government resources to deliver services.

John Rujoki Musinguzi, the Commissioner General of URA, has, however, blamed the delayed collection of gold taxes on the interim order issued by the Court, halting the collection of this particular tax until concerns raised by the gold exporters are disposed of.

In July 2023, Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (Cosase) revealed that Shs340.56 billion in taxes were not collected from gold exports in Financial Year 2021/22.