The Parliament's Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has summoned the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Henry Musasizi, to explain the alleged registration of four companies without payment of fees amounting to Shs8 billion to the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB). This decision was made during the committee's consideration of the Auditor General's Report for the year ended 2025.
According to URSB officials, the Ministry of Finance instructed the Bureau to register Tropical Bank, Oil Palm Buvuma, Roko Construction Ltd, and Speke Resort Convention Centre Munyonyo, and invoice the ministry for the fees. However, the arrangement has raised questions among MPs over the legal basis for the directive and why the outstanding payments had remained unsettled for four years.
Ndorwa County West MP Eliab Naturinda noted that there were established procedures for government to acquire shares in companies or secure exemptions from registration fees, including seeking Cabinet approval. COSASE Chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi expressed concern over possible collusion and demanded correspondence showing URSB's efforts to recover the money, alongside the legal justification for the arrangement.
The committee also heard that URSB Acting Registrar General Mustapher Ntale had written to the Accountant General regarding the delayed payment but had not received a resolution. Ntale explained that the companies had only been exempted from stamp duty, while registration fees remained payable. He said the minister had written to the Registrar directing the Bureau to register the companies and invoice the ministry.
COSASE members raised additional concerns over persistent internet downtime affecting online registration, breakdowns in the electronic government procurement system, and new commitments worth Shs380 million despite outstanding domestic arrears. Budadiri County East MP Julius Nakiyi questioned the new commitments, saying government entities should not incur fresh obligations without clearing existing arrears or having an approved budget.
The committee is scheduled to meet officials from the Ministry of Finance, URSB, the four companies, and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs on Thursday, October 29, 2026, to examine the audit query further. Nkunyingi said the committee expected the Justice Ministry to clarify the legal framework governing URSB's operations as Parliament seeks explanations and action over the outstanding registration fees.
The summons of the Finance Minister is part of COSASE's efforts to scrutinize the dealings between the Ministry of Finance and URSB. Key issues to be addressed include the legal basis for the directive to register the companies without immediate payment of fees and the reasons for the delayed payment of Shs8 billion.
Key points
- COSASE summons Finance Minister Henry Musasizi over Shs8 billion URSB registration fees.
- The committee questions the legal basis for the Ministry of Finance's directive to register four companies without immediate payment of fees.
- COSASE seeks explanations from the Justice Ministry on the legal framework governing URSB's operations.
