By Akinyi Winiefred
Uganda Revenue Authority has appealed to the public to actively participate in revenue mobilization efforts to realise the mission of making Uganda economically independent.
Speaking at the post budget conference held at Hotel Africana on Tuesday, Commissioner General John Musinguzi noted that while the authority has made significant strides in widening Uganda’s tax base, it still grapples with low levels of compliance from taxpayers.
“I want us to meet midway, we will improve in our actions towards you, we will engage, we will listen. But I want to appeal to you this morning that meet us halfway, be compliant, embrace the technologies that we have introduced, don’t use them only when you choose,” he said.
Musinguzi also highlighted some of the initiatives the tax body will employ to achieve the 29.7 trillion target for the next financial year, including expansion of the tax register, where he revealed that the authority registered 1.5 million taxpayers in the last three years.
“I’m happy to report to you, Honorable Minister, and all our distinguished guests today that in the last three years, Uganda Revenue Authority has been able to identify an additional 1.5 million new taxpayers who had never existed on our register and we have increased our numbers from 1.7 to 3.2 million today,” he said.
He added that URA will increase taxpayer mobilization and sensitization, strengthen the taxpayer registration program, leverage technology, and boost tax education among others.
In his remarks, Honorable Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for General Duties projected that Uganda’s GDP will increase to Ugx 206.54 trillion in the coming financial year.
This expansion he said will result from improved global conditions, more oil and gas activity, implementation of the Parish Development Model’s, regional commerce, and higher production.
Musasizi also praised URA’s initiatives to combat corruption and the reforms made over time to enhance revenue mobilization.
URA in collaboration with the Ministry of finance and other partners will host similar engagements in the districts of Arua, Lira, Kasese, Kabale, and Soroti to aid taxpayers in better understanding of the budget.
