Recently resigned former Commissioner of Domestic Taxes at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Dicksons Kateshumbwa alias Katesh has declared intentions to run for Member of Parliament (MP) representing Sheema Municipality in the 2021-2026 regime.
Kateshumbwa, who has worked at the National Tax Body for 15 years, will be battling the Science and Technology Minister Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye. Tumwesigye was NRM’s blue eyed boy, who whisked the newly formed constituency away from the sharp claws of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) whose candidate Ms Plan Mugyenyi lost narrowly and has been in court since.
The constituency was created on July 1st, 2018 having been created out of Sheema North Constituency.
The news of Kateshumbwa’s bold move into politics became clear when he donated tonnes of maize flour to the people of Sheema Municipality, just weeks after resigning from URA. A move that many political observers cited as his first step into elective politics.
Almost immediately, a poster bearing his name in NRM colours came out revealing his intentions for the position, all scenarios making face value with a declaration from the horse’s mouth.
In an interview with Soft Power News, the former URA Boss said he has harboured ambitions to represent his people for a long time now. He noted that after serving Uganda and internationally (as Chairman of the World Customs Body), he has decided to bless his people with the kind of leadership he represents.
“Since I resigned, mafias have been paying people to destroy me. I have served URA with integrity for 15 years, I wouldn’t have served that long if I were a wrong character as the mafias want to purport.” Katesh said in the interview.
Kateshumbwa and other URA Commissioners resigned a month after the president replaced Commissioner General Doris Akol with a former State House employee John Musinguzi. The moves, Museveni says were meant to rid the institution of corruption.
Other candidates that have shown interest in the position include Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary, Patrick Mutabwire Kyamukaate.
