By Joshua Niyonshima
URA is going greener thanks to her partnership with Fair Ventures Uganda, which has supported the Authority’s Green Guard campaign by furnishing the taxman with trees.
Recently,1800 trees were distributed to taxpayers in appreciation of their compliance and to foster environmental protection.
Tom B. Kagarura, the Managing Director of Crane Freight Shipping Services, while receiving his tree, cited the need to fight for the restoration of the ecosystem. He commended URA for what he called a noble act.
“Land is a major resource in the production journey; by giving out trees to the public, you are increasing the productivity of land, which in turn increases returns on companies,” stated Kagarura.
He continued, “I’m so pleased that, aside from revenue mobilization, URA can think of environmental sustainability. Indeed, this is visionary and will yield fruits for Uganda.”
Stuart Jason Mwesigwa, the Corporate Affairs Manager at Roofings Group, said it is time for Ugandans to rise up and defend nature before nature defends itself.
“It takes many years for a tree to grow, but destruction is done in a second. Today, the weather is unpredictable. The forecasters will tell us about rain and it shines. This is due to climate change, which must be combated,” said Mwesigwa.
He added that poor waste disposal is another element of environmental destruction and called on manufacturers and other people to avoid dumping waste in swamps for environmental survival.
Speaking about the campaign, URA’s Ag. Manager for Public and Corporate Affairs, Robert Wamala, explained that a safe environment improves the health of people, which fosters economic development. This, he said, is the core of the Green Guard campaign.
“URA is cognizant that society is facing many environmental challenges, including the depletion of natural resources, pollution, and climate change, which have a bearing on natural habitats, loss of species, the collapse of ecosystems, and the degradation of urban and rural human settlements. It is in this regard that the URA Green Guard campaign has been launched,” he explained.
Wamala encouraged all taxpayers who picked up the trees to plant and maintain them for the good of Uganda and the world at large.
Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development led by example by walking away with a tree in their hands.
