By Paul Kawanguzi
Lira business women walked away with a rejuvenated mind that was more empowered to handle their tax matters after an engaging financial literacy workshop with URA on Friday 25th April. This advisory was shared during the tax education workshop that aimed at fostering financial literacy, enhancing tax compliance, and empowering women entrepreneurs with vital information about the tax system. This engagement brought together women from diverse professional and economic backgrounds who are engaged in a variety of economic activities coupled with an eagerness to deepen their understanding of tax-related matters.
Primarily conducted in the local language, Leb-Lango, to ensure inclusivity and better understanding among participants, URA’s Mercy Okori, a tax education officer, urged participants to maintain proper business records and understand the significance of having only one Tax Identification Number (TIN) per individual.
She also reminded them to utilize URA’s support channels, including the toll-free line (0800117000) and WhatsApp (0772140000) whenever they need support from the institution.
“Tax is the price we pay for civilization,” Okori stressed, “without it, we cannot enjoy services like hospitals, schools, and roads. We encourage everyone to pay taxes faithfully.”
She also encouraged women to join supportive associations such as the Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Ltd (UWEAL) and the local manufacturing association to expand their networks and access more resources.
The workshop tackled common obstacles hindering business success, including poor record-keeping, lack of planning, illegal trade practices, and tax evasion. Okori added that the fear of URA often stems from misinformation and lack of access to the right support.
Andrew Mukulu, Ag. Station Head at the Lira Station, emphasized URA’s key mandate which is to collect revenue and advise government on tax laws and policy. He reiterated that URA’s role does not extend to the allocation of collected funds as this responsibility lies with the Ministry of Finance and Parliament.
“The essence of workshops like this is to inform and facilitate,” Mukulu noted, “our intention is not to intimidate, but to support businesses in their growth journey.”
In response, attendees called for a more compassionate and supportive approach in tax enforcement, requesting that friendlier officers be deployed to deal with taxpayers.
URA also conducted detailed sessions on breakdown of presumptive tax thresholds and deadlines with elaboration about the TIN application process and record-keeping benefits.
Some attendees shared personal testimonies about maintaining accurate records that help them prove instances where business income is below the tax threshold, thus being exempting them from paying tax.
URA reaffirms its commitment to financial literacy and continued engagement with women in business. The organization continues to promote voluntary compliance by equipping taxpayers with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate Uganda’s tax system confidently.
