By Dismas Nuwaine
Frederieke Quispel, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda, has lauded the remarkable progress made by the taxman in leading Uganda’s drive toward economic independence through boosting domestic revenue collection,
She commended the strong efforts in fighting corruption and the establishment of a Tax Academy to continuously sharpen staff skills, ensuring they keep up with the ever-changing evolving tax landscape.
She made these Comments on Friday, when she paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner General, John R. Musinguzi, along with her aides from the embassy.
The ambassador acknowledged that while the Netherlands currently provides development funding to Uganda, the long-term goal is for the two countries to transition into equal development partners.
“Uganda possesses sufficient natural resources and a dynamic young workforce to sustain its own growth and development. This is a unique opportunity to transform Uganda’s economic landscape,” she said.
Musinguzi commended the Dutch business community in Uganda, noting that the approximately 60 Dutch companies operating in the country are highly compliant with tax regulations.
He thanked the ambassador for attracting investors who are actively adding value to local raw materials and creating employment opportunities for both Ugandans and Dutch nationals.
To further strengthen cooperation, Musinguzi proposed the introduction of a dedicated liaison officer at URA to support new Dutch businesses operating in Uganda.
“Such an initiative will go a long way to ensure that foreign investors are well-informed about Uganda’s taxation landscape, available incentives, and their shared obligations under the law,” he said.
Both parties agreed to collaborate through the URA Tax Academy to enhance the skills of all stakeholders involved in the line of taxation, right from URA staff, business facilitators such as freight-forwarding agents, and taxpayers.
Musinguzi highlighted the need for practical knowledge and training, stating, “Many people are willing to work but lack the right skills to apply in their workplaces. This is a national call, to build a knowledge reservoir that can serve for generations to come.”
The ambassador also applauded URA’s efforts in promoting tax education, emphasizing that increased awareness is key to achieving shared prosperity where every individual honors their civic rights to pay their right share of taxes.
Additionally, she praised the Commissioner General’s commitment to innovation, particularly in automating tax systems to improve efficiency and the taxpayer experience.
She welcomed the planned transition from the current e-Tax system to a more advanced version, e-Tax 2, which aims to eliminate delays and streamline tax administration.
This partnership marks a significant step toward strengthening Uganda’s tax system and fostering long-term economic growth through enhanced collaboration with international partners.
