Overview:
Mr. Kateeba takes on the role after four years as Commissioner for Tax Investigations (CTI), a period credited with reforms in tax fraud detection and stronger inter-agency coordination.
Kampala, Uganda – The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has appointed Mr. Denis Kugonza Kateeba, a veteran tax administrator and financial management expert, as its new Commissioner for Domestic Taxes (CDT).
Mr. Kateeba takes on the role after four years as Commissioner for Tax Investigations (CTI), a period credited with reforms in tax fraud detection and stronger inter-agency coordination.
His association with the Domestic Taxes Department dates back to 2005, when he first served briefly as an officer before moving on to senior roles in government and the private sector. Between 2008 and 2021, he worked with the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), where he modernized financial systems and strengthened accountability in public programs.
Before returning to URA in 2021, Mr. Kateeba built an international career in the United Kingdom at Howard Frank Chartered Accountants & Auditors, specializing in external auditing and financial reviews. Colleagues say this blend of public- and private-sector experience has given him a rare perspective on the needs of Uganda’s largest taxpayers.
A Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he also holds an MBA in Public Sector Management and a Bachelor of Commerce degree. His professional development includes advanced courses in leadership, forensic auditing, revenue intelligence, and financial management from institutions such as the World Bank, Crown Agents (London), and ESAMI.
As CTI, Mr. Kateeba presided over significant milestones. He spearheaded the introduction of withholding tax on agency banking, championed the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) Bill in 2023, and expanded the use of digital forensics in tax dispute resolution. He also established specialized fraud investigation units, dismantling schemes such as sales suppression, invoice trading, and motor vehicle fraud, while tightening URA’s grip on sectors like trade, telecoms, manufacturing, and the digital economy.
Those who have worked with him describe his leadership style as participative, situational, and transformational—valuing collaboration, adaptability, and integrity. He is regarded as a quiet but firm leader who discourages corruption and favoritism, preferring to mentor young professionals and lead by example.
Looking ahead, Mr. Kateeba is expected to prioritize digitizing tax systems, broadening the taxpayer register, improving compliance, and expanding domestic revenue collections. URA insiders believe his past reforms in financial reporting at NAADS and budgetary discipline at UNRA foreshadow the kind of changes he may bring to the Domestic Taxes Department.
He is also likely to continue advancing regional cooperation against cross-border tax fraud and illicit financial flows, a cause he championed during his CTI tenure.
URA officials describe his appointment as both a homecoming and a strategic choice, given his early exposure to Domestic Taxes nearly 20 years ago.
Mr. Kateeba assumes the role at a critical time, with the Domestic Taxes Department under pressure to raise collections to finance Uganda’s expanding budget. His blend of technical expertise, reform-minded leadership, and zero tolerance for corruption is expected to shape the department’s next chapter.