In a bid to strengthen stakeholder relations, URA management represented by Patience Rubagumya, the Commissioner Legal Services & Board Affairs, Sarah Chelangat, the Commissioner Domestic Taxes and Paddy Ochieng Ag. Assistant Commissioner Service Management visited Next media services.
The URA team is willing to listen to the plight the Media houses like Next media companies face in this tough business environment as they push for greater tax compliance.
Speaking at the Next Media offices, where the URA Management team made a courtesy call on Friday, Rubagumya said that by focusing on encouraging tax compliance, the URA team will be working on providing tailor-made tax education to the various taxpayer segments so that they pay taxes with ease.
“URA has changed the tone of doing business. We want to understand the taxpayer’s business before demanding for taxes,” Rubagumya said of URA ‘s new direction.
URA ’s main challenge is to increase the tax to GDP ratio to at least 16% which is the average of sub-saharan, African countries.
The Commissioners praised Next Media Services for the role the media has played in supporting URA to fulfil its mandate through well researched features, profiles and live coverage of URA events on the different platforms.
This kind of collaboration of collaboration according to Kin Kariisa, the Next Media Services CEO is what will promote a taxpaying culture in Uganda.
“Ten years later our neighbours will be wondering why Uganda has a very good Tax Paying Culture. But it all begins with this kind of collaboration,” Kariisa said.
In order to grow the partnership, Kariisa requested for sensitization of his staff on the basics of Tax including acquiring a TIN.
Corresponding Reporting by Immaculate Wanyenze
