By Joshua Niyonshima
The Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Planning, and Economic Development has applauded URA for strongly fighting corruption.
“The 84 staff that you have so far sent away is a good lesson. Do not relent. One of the aspects pulling down this country is corruption; therefore, there is a need to commend you for fighting the vice,” said Hon. Avur Jane Pacuto, the Vice Chairperson of the Committee.
Pacuto made these remarks during a meeting between the Committee Members and the Commissioner General of URA, John Musinguzi, as they prepared to embark on a tour of various URA stations to get a better understanding and appreciation of the authority’s operations.
The tour which has commenced today, will see the parliamentarians visit stations including the One-Stop Border Posts of Malaba, Busia, Lwakhakha, Mutukula, Katuna, Mirama Hills, and the Masaka offices. The MPs will also visit large taxpayers, like Nile breweries in Jinja.
In his briefing, Musinguzi appreciated the MPs for the continuous support they extend to the tax body.
“We thank you [Parliament] for supporting us because many have come to accuse us before you, but that has not deterred us from generating revenue,” he said.
He told the MPs some of the strategies the authority is implementing to enhance revenue mobilization.
“We are closing revenue leakages, strongly and boldly dealing with corruption, introducing performance management, and improving efficiencies. We are deliberate about innovations to simplify the customer’s journey. You can pay any tax using the USSD code; this month we shall be launching all the IT initiatives,” Musinguzi noted.
He added that the authority has instituted a new performance management system to enhance staff performance.
“We shall reward those who work so hard by introducing performance rewards. For the non-performers, we shall support them and if they can’t cope,” Musinguzi said.
Amos Kankunda, the Committee Chairperson asked for more engagements to understand how to extend support to URA better.
“As parliament, we need to understand how we can support you better in the endeavors of this generation. We want to understand your performance in rental tax because it is a concern,” he said.
