David Kalemera, appointed last July to head Uganda’s State House Revenue Intelligence Unit despite a prior criminal conviction, has been dismissed and reassigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this publication has learned.
The decision follows widespread criticism of President Yoweri Museveni’s controversial appointment of Kalemera, a former Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) official, to a key revenue intelligence role despite his 2022 conviction for tax fraud and conspiracy.
In April 2022, High Court Justice Lawrence Gidudu convicted Kalemera for masterminding an elaborate tax evasion scheme that deprived the government of billions of shillings. The court found that Kalemera, alongside accomplices Ssemanda Ian Paul and Kazibwe Ronald, used forged customs documents to bypass taxes on goods cleared through Mombasa port.
“The evidence irrefutably proved that the accused acted with intent to defraud,” Justice Gidudu stated during sentencing. Prosecution evidence revealed Kalemera as the originator of the falsified invoices and packing lists used in the fraudulent scheme.
Kalemera’s dismissal has been met with approval from anti-corruption advocates, many of whom had criticized his initial appointment to oversee revenue intelligence operations. “This is a positive step for transparency and accountability in Uganda’s tax administration,” a Kampala-based political analyst remarked anonymously.
Despite the allegations, Kalemera has consistently maintained his innocence, asserting his commitment to fighting corruption and closing revenue leakages. His controversial appointment, however, continued to draw skepticism over his ability to lead anti-corruption efforts within the tax system.
State House has yet to announce a replacement for Kalemera in the Revenue Intelligence Unit, a division established last year to combat tax evasion and improve revenue collection.
