By Joshua Niyonshima
In a unique approach to promoting tax compliance, URA staff in West Nile joined congregants at Emmanuel Cathedral in Madi West diocese to pray against non- compliance.
The service led by Rev. Jimmy Candia brought together URA officials, religious leaders and the business community to seek divine intervention in the fight against tax evasion in West Nile.
In his remarks, Rev. Candia urged the congregants to embrace tax compliance as a moral obligation and a biblical mandate.
“We pledge to make the community understand that URA are not enemies but rather friends that are collecting revenue for national building. As they collect, they have the capacity to give back and make our country great,” Candia said.
URA ‘s Chairperson Staff Council, Bernard Kasoma emphasized the importance of tax compliance in developing the country.
“Today, I want to emphasize the importance of paying taxes as a key contribution to vital social services such as healthcare and security and other social programs that benefit our community, like the parish model that is being implemented by government,” Kasoma said on the role of taxes.
Kasoma also affirmed URA ‘s commitment to delivering exceptional services to taxpayers and stakeholders especially in the West Nile region.
Abbey Mawerere, the Northern Regional Manager Customs clarified that their visit aims to dispel the longstanding misconception that they are only interested in collecting revenue as opposed to supporting the country ‘s development through taxes collected.
“We have come here to demystify the long-standing matter that we are taking people’s money yet we are here to work together and rescue our country from economic dependence,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, in the spirit of communal living, the staff in the region donated UGX 4.4 million towards purchase of church instruments.
