UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) marked its 30th anniversary with celebrations at Kololo Independence grounds. President Yoweri Museveni and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni, graced the ceremony.
During his speech, the President tasked the Authority with increasing revenue collection by 20%. He explained the importance of this:
“The performance of the country’s revenue collection can be gauged by a universal yardstick, the GDP tax ratio.” If our GDP is US$44 billion our budget now is 40 trillion. If you collect 20% of the GDP, you get almost enough money to finance the budget.”
The President further explained that URA collected USH 19 trillion, which is below expectations. He said that tax revenues need to increase for the country to finance its budget and limit borrowing internally and from abroad.
The Commissioner-General of URA, Mr John Rujoki Musinguzi, addressed the audience and appreciated the President and taxpayers’ support. He also extended his gratitude towards the Ministry of Finance and his predecessors. In addition, he vowed to take the country towards zero tolerance to corruption and urged the body’s senior management to take an oath of allegiance and diligent service to taxpayers.
URA has stepped up its efforts to ensure that Ugandans understand the value of the tax body and acknowledge its presence.
The body has introduced a new initiative titled “Tujenge Uganda,” a Kiswahili word for let’s build Uganda. The program seeks to create awareness and trust among Ugandans about the tax body.
“Tujenge Uganda” was launched in Eastern Uganda with the local governments of the region. “Tujenge Uganda” will roll out later across the country.
Three key topics of this sensitisation program include:
i) Tax Identification Number (TIN),
ii) Tax returns filing, and
iii) Tax advocacy services.
Some other key initiatives URA has undertaken to create awareness include:
- A 58-second social media video by URA’s Assistant Commissioner Public and Corporate Affairs, Ian Muhimbise Rumanyika, highlighting the 7th coronation anniversary of the Busoga kingdom’s Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV. This video reached the people in the Busoga sub-region who were unaware of URA and its services.
- URA held a webinar on Offence Management Process and Prosecution on 7th September 2021 and invited notable speakers to the webinar.
- A promotional bus with the message “Developing Uganda Together” is URA’s moving office that will link the tax body with the taxpayers through online services in remote areas.
- Efforts to boost tax collection and management in the property sector are underway through a digitalised land management system to ensure land rates and stamp duty grow. Digitalisation is underway, and this will allow URA to know each property location.
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