By Dismas Nuwaine
March is celebrated as a women’s history month all over the world. It’s a time to honor and recognize the foundational contributions and achievements of women in the building and advancement of a well-ordered contemporary society.
URA in partnership with the Kampala Capital City Traders Association (KACITA), organized the annual Women in Business Conference last Thursday. The half-day session which was convened at Hotel Africana, addressed the challenges, opportunities and advancements related to women’s roles and leadership in the business world.
Hafsah Seguya, a Tax Education expert praised the women entrepreneurs for their continued cooperation with the tax body. She commended their efforts in helping Uganda develop through compliance with their tax obligations.
Seguya implored the women to take time, listen to tax shows on the media, and understand their rights and obligations in regard to taxes, urging that ignorance is one of the biggest threats to women in business.
“These taxes are not hard to understand. The challenge is that we don’t give ample time to understand them. Most times when tax shows are live people change stations, fancying other shows instead of educational tax content,” Seguya said.
She added, “The reason why we are using these platforms to advance tax information is because we are looking for you, because we need you. As you sit in your home, as you’re heading home from work, please do listen to this information.”
Hope Katwine, the Vice Chairperson and Head of the Women’s League in KACITA, thanked the tax body for their meditation approach to solving issues with traders.
“KACITA and URA are no longer foes but friends,” said Katwiine before she continued, “When there are overriding issues that need to be solved, we sit down and iron them out amicably.”
Bridgette Kigongo, the Proprietor of Vintage Herbals, a brand that produces high-quality organic products for beauty and health, also shared her story. She progressed with her budding business, from sub-renting to a kiosk, until she relocated to a shop of her own.
She confessed that during the early days of the business, she hardly kept any records. This brought her into direct loggerheads with the URA as her fines accumulated over time to the tune of UGX 2.5 million.
Kigongo pleaded with the revenue body for a waiver, and the matter was solved through the alternative dispute resolution method.
After this, officials from the revenue body properly assessed her business, and an excited Kigongo paid her due returns in full.
She implored fellow businesswomen to keep their records since it’s upon them that they can make an accurate self-assessment. She also commended the revenue body for putting up a user-friendly online portal that is easy to understand.
Seguya continued to teach the women about the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS). She clarified that it’s a mere solution and not a tax, as some people have been lured to believe.
She also tackled the Digital Tracking System (DTS) and took the ladies through the compliance cycle.
