By Prisca Anan
The Ag. Assistant Commissioner Tax Education, Micah Samuel Gaalya has rallied URA Domestic Taxes team in Tororo to adapt taxpayer education efforts to the local language.
“It is crucial that we tailor our education efforts to the unique needs of each area. We are here to support you in creating content that resonates with our taxpayers. I don’t want to bring a ‘Kampala solution’ to Tororo; instead, I am also here to gather feedback so we can refine our strategy for next year.”
He further commended the Tororo station for its exceptional efforts in driving tax education initiatives across the Eastern region.
“I have received excellent reports that the Tororo office is leading the way in tax education within the Eastern region. My visit today is to ensure that we maintain this momentum and continuously improve our initiatives through ongoing feedback,” said Gaalya.
Micheal Masembe, the Ag. Manager Tax Education, thanked the station for their collaboration and urged them to develop into a hub that fosters more trainings on consolidated and groupage cargo trainings to support the needs of the Malaba OSBP.
Aturo Amos, the Tororo Station Head, lauded the TE team for the support, highlighting recent successful training events at Butaleja and Tororo Girls School, as well as sector-specific onboarding sessions. “We have fully embraced tax education sessions and are grateful for the ongoing support. We look forward to more of this work,” said Aturo.
The station’s staff shared feedback gathered from taxpayers during sensitization programs where taxpayers voiced the need for more translated teaching aids, additional translators, and meals to support longer education sessions. Additionally, taxpayers called for greater accountability in the management and use of tax revenues by government.
The tax education initiatives held last week included two training sessions for educational institutions, as well as sector-specific onboarding sessions for taxpayers from the wholesale and retail sectors, construction, transportation, accommodation, estate management, and professional services. The sessions also catered to marginalized groups, including Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
From the start of this financial year, the Tororo DT station has organized a series of impactful tax sensitization drives, including eight Tax katales (public outreach events), seven onboarding sessions, multiple sector engagements, two EFRIS engagements, radio talk-shows, customs barazas, school outreach programs, and special interest sessions such as those for Women in Business. These efforts are gradually expanding to more rural areas and trading centers throughout the district.
