The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has come out to deny reports that its building (URA Tower) that houses the headquarters, flooded yesterday after the heavy rains hit most of Kampala and surrounding districts.
Yesterday a video showing flooding at the URA Tower was making rounds on social media. But URA’s Head Public and Corporate Affairs, Vincent Seruma, yesterday evening dismissed the video saying, “This is to clarify that there was no flooding at the Tower.”
However, in his rebuttal, Seruma conceded that strong winds pushed rain water through the roof top louvers that dropped to floor two of the building. He said a solution to protect louvers from exceptional storms was being put in place.
In a video captured by a staff, URA employees are seen running away from their desks taking refuge in another corner, with a few running to save the computers.
The new building was completed at USh139 billion (about US$37 million), in construction costs.
The appropriately pie-shaped building boasts 280,000 square feet of usable space which includes offices, meeting spaces, service centres, gym, and saloons and nursing spaces.
The house is meant to accommodate up to 1,700 people, with 5 floors of parking space that can house 350 cars. The outer parking area has space for another 700 cars.
At the launch ceremony of the building in January this year, President Museveni said infrastructure without integrity will not enhance revenue collection. He said it was important for URA to instil integrity amongst its staff.
Dr. Simon Kagugube, the URA board Chairman said the ultra-modern building was part of the innovations and new technology adoption that the board champions for better service delivery.
Doris Akol, the URA Commissioner General said the building was part of the tax body’s modernisation agenda aimed at having modern infrastructure for efficient tax collection and management.
Architect Jonathan Nsubuga whose firm, JE Nsubuga and Associates designed the iconic building, said the structure was designed with environmental consciousness in mind. He said the building was designed to be “green”- using no powered ACs, with a perfect natural aeration and lighting and intelligently powered lifts.
