By Irene Kabakama
Compliance heads from revenue bodies in the East African region have met to discuss a strategy to enhance integrity and fight corruption in their tax bodies.
This is happening under the 17th East Africa Revenue Authorities Technical Committee on Integrity (EARATCI) that is being hosted by the Uganda Revenue Authority at the Serena Hotel in Kigo.
The 3-day meeting has attracted representatives from Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Uganda.
According to James Abola, the Chairperson of the Committee and Assistant Commissioner of staff compliance at URA, this year’s meeting is focusing on sharing experiences from different revenue authorities on integrity and analyzing the different integrity assessments to come up with a regional report and integrity strategy.
Abola stressed the importance of integrity in revenue mobilization, calling it a bedrock.
“This has been embraced by authorities across the region, so looking at integrity from a broader perspective helps us trace the loopholes that cause revenue leakages and also find the measures that deter fraud,” he added.
Sophia Abuga, the Ag. Chief Manager Ethics, Policy, and Compliance Unit Kenya Revenue Authority, highlighted some of the strategies KRA is implementing to ensure integrity and curb revenue leakages, including carrying out lifestyle audits, investigating staff implicated in unethical practices, and vetting staff on integrity before they are promoted.
In his remarks, Richard Kariisa, URA’s Ag. Commissioner General tasked the team to focus on initiatives that will help revenue authorities improve and sustain their tax-to-GDP ratio from 18 to 20% so that East African economies are on the right path to middle-income status.
He added that they should identify initiatives that will effectively combat corruption and improve voluntary compliance among taxpayers.
Kariisa reckoned that developing a uniform strategy will boost the benefits to all member countries.
EARATCI is a sub-committee of the East African Revenue Authorities Commissioner Generals Summit and brings together the internal affairs functions of the six East African Revenue Authorities, namely: Kenya Revenue Authority, Office Burundian des Recettes, National Revenue Authority, Rwanda Revenue Authority, Tanzania Revenue Authority, and Uganda Revenue Authority.
