Kisaka braced for second term as KCCA hits highest revenue collection in years

KAMPALA, UGANDA: Ms Dorothy Kisaka will at the end of this week see her first three-year kisanja as Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) come to an end, pending renewal from President Museveni.

Sources inside State House indicate that Mr Museveni (who is vested with the powers to appoint the Authority’s ED) is pleased with how Kisaka steered KCCA through the most challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant lockdown which disrupted business in the city and the country at large.

Regardless of whether she secures the second term or not, Kisaka is wearing a big smile on her face as KCCA recorded the biggest revenue collection in June 2023, since KCCA inception. The Revenue collection team is wallowing in pride over the Authority’s unprecedented achievement in revenue mobilisation despite the two covid years.

The 2022/23 Financial Year saw KCCA register the highest collection to the tune of UGX 104.8 Bn which is the highest collection in the Authority’s 11-year history.

In the period between FY2020/21 and 2023/24, the Authority was able to mobilise a total of 274.5 Billion representing a 25℅ revenue growth.

Regarding revenue performance over the last three years, there has been steady growth, attaining 92%, 94% and 105 % in target revenue collection for FY2020/21, FY 2021/22, and FY2022/23 respectively.

In FY2020/21, 80.32 Bn was collected of the projected Ugx87.07 which translated into a 92% achievement. Of the Shs 99.75Bn that had been targeted for FY2021/22, Shs 93.3Bn was attained, an achievement of 94%. 2022/23 exceeded expectations and marked the highest-ever collection in the process. Whereas 99.75 Bn had been targeted, the actual collection hit a whooping 104.8 Bn, marking a score of 105%.

The trend above can be attributed to several factors, including; the emphasis on going SMART by using technology, introduction of a fully automated revenue administration system- e-Citie which is entirely run online and has enhanced tax administration and collection. This has resulted in improved administration and efficiency, particularly in terms of reduced turnaround time

A city trader can for instance get a licence in less than 30 minutes thanks to the innovation. The approach has also reduced corruption as it has minimised the physical interface between KCCA revenue staff and clients as well as outlawing physical cash handling which often resulted in extortion and bribery.

The Authority under Kisaka’s leadership also revalued properties located in the Central and Nakawa Divisions using computer Aided Mass Valuation Techniques. This is expected to further enhance growth in property rates revenue by about 10 billion after full implementation of the new Central Division valuation roll effective 1st July 2023 and that of Nakawa effective 1st July 2024.

The approach has saved the institution and the government over 70% of the resources that would otherwise have been used in the property valuation process.

The revaluation exercise of the properties located in Makindye, Rubaga, and Kawempe Divisions started in April 2023.

A City Property Rates Remission Committee (ORRC) was constituted in FY2021/22 to handle property rates emissions, reductions and wavers which has in turn contributed to the improvement of tax administration in the city.

The period between FY2020/2021 and 2022/23 registered a 40% growth rate of the City Trading Licence register from 157,000 to 220,000.

The continuous call for working SMART is paying off in the SMART CITY Agenda with emphasis on the use of technology, infrastructure development and improvement in people well being.

As far as improving city junctions is concerned, as many as 17 were signalised under KIIDP2 and GOU funding. The new signalised junctions are; 5 junctions along John Babiha (Acacia) Avenue, 5 along Nakawa Ntinda, 2 along Lukuli, 3 along Kabuusu-Bunamwaya-Lweeza road, Ben Kiwanuka/Luwum Street and Kasubi junction.

Besides, signalisation works on 27 city junctions have commenced. These will be funded by a grant from Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA). KCCA also maintained 39 existing traffic signal junctions under the framework contract for signal maintenance.

The completion of the construction of the old tax park is one of the key highlights of Kisaka’s tenure. This covers a total area of 14,273 square meters. The project has worked to tremendously improve traffic and the general outlook of the city downtown.

Despite the commendable work done so far, several challenges such as inadequate funding, vandalism of roads furniture including street lighting components, and manhole covers, understanding, for instance, the Directorate of Engineering and Technical Services which operates at less than 50% of the approved staff structure and capacity gaps in the utilisation of BIMs. These have detailed progress despite the capacity to do even more.