By Irene Kabakama
Uganda Revenue Authority in partnership with Huawei Technologies Uganda donated 20 computers to Nyarilo secondary school in Koboko district. Led by the Ag. Legal Commissioner George Okello and PCA’s Robert Wamala, the activity is aimed at equipping the young people in the area with technology but also, as a medium to relax past tensions between URA and the Koboko Community.
Nyarilo secondary school is a government aided school located in Koboko town with a population of 779 students. It’s also a pilot school and a center for special needs children in Koboko.
Speaking at the event, George Okello said that the partnership with Huawei is timely and in the right direction for the schools to get a way of learning in a technology driven world.
He emphasized that URA responsibility to society goes beyond tax mobilization but also entails social causes. He added that URA reaches out to schools because in them, future taxpayers are groomed.
Ag. AC PCA Robert Wamala, thanked Huawei for the partnering with URA to provide technological equipment to schools for the last 6 years. Huawei has previously worked with URA to donate hampers to traffic officers and mobile phones to taxpayers during the Taxpayer Appreciation Season. Similar donations were also made in the past to St. Theresa School in Masindi and to schools in Tororo and Lira.
Wamala said URA officials led by the Commissioner General had had a meeting with Koboko community leadership after the demonstration where the institution committed to harmonised working relationship. He added that the donation was a step closer to rebuilding a good operating environment.
Ke Lei, the Huawei representative said that their mission is to bring digitalization to every person especially in schools to advance modernized education.
The Koboko Woman MP, Dr Shakirah Taban appreciated URA for striving for a good relationship with the locals as the institution had promised earlier on during the consultative meetings.
“I urge the people in Koboko to support URA and stop the illegal business of smuggling of fuel because the revenue it collects is for supporting our government. Today they (URA) are here and I can our relationship is changing for the better,” said Taban
In February this year, riots staged a section of Boda-boda riders from Koboko climaxed into the burning of URA’s office in the area. The strife also led to loss of lives which undermined URA’s efforts to mobilise revenue in the area. The donations and the recent stakeholder meeting are part of the initiatives which URA has put in place to ensure a friendly and stable operating environment.
