By Kamugisha Kabahweza Allan
Early this week officers from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) visited URA on a fact-finding mission to understand its systems and processes.
The 110 officers, nine of whom are female are the 34th intake at the Junior Command and Staff course in Jinja.
The head of the delegation, Deputy Commandant Col. Mubangizi Anech, explained that the benchmark would enable the officers to appreciate the economic development of Uganda and where the country is headed.
“We are here because these officers want to appreciate the economic development of our country. URA’s mission is in tandem with why we are here,” he said.
Mubangizi added that the UPDF is mandated to defend and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda, noting that Uganda’s sovereignty starts at the URA.
Richard Kariisa, the Commissioner of Corporate Services at URA, appreciated the partnership URA enjoys with Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), saying that without national security, there is no way URA would be able to mobilize revenue.
“If there is no national security, then we cannot have economic security. So, it is in that regard that we appreciate the cooperation between URA and UPDF and the entire Ministry of Defense in ensuring our country is one,” said Kariisa.
Kariisa noted that security is crucial for Uganda to progress from economic dependence to economic independence.
“We need to harness our efforts in ensuring economic and national security to make sure that Uganda progresses to the next level of a stronger and more self-sustaining nation,” Kariisa said.
Speaking to the officers, the Assistant Commissioner of Public and Corporate Affairs Ibrahim K. Bbossa explained URA’s mandate and how URA could only succeed with partnership from other agencies like the UPDF.
“We are charged with that responsibility to make sure that we collect enough revenue to finance government programs and service delivery in Uganda. Without URA and revenue mobilization, the country’s integrity is nowhere. We would always depend on borrowing and be slaves to those who have money,” said Bbossa.
Bbossa also outlined the different innovations that URA has developed to aid tax compliance, such as Touchpoint, ASYCUDA, BWIMS, the new web portal, the USSD code, and Tujenge Buses.
The benchmark was also attended by the Assistant Commissioner of Learning and Development, Irene Mbabazi Irumba, who spoke on URA’s staff capacity-building initiatives.
She stated that URA values its staff and has established systems to equip them with the knowledge they need to carry out their jobs efficiently.
