By Laura Nagaba Nataline
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has taken a significant step towards fostering a more robust tax ecosystem by successfully onboarding new town councils onto the taxpayer register. The onboarding exercises, conducted last week in Cyanika, Nyakabande, Kisoro and Rubanda, targeted wholesale and trade communities.
The comprehensive program included sector-based workshops designed to educate taxpayers on various tax-related topics including computations, to promote a culture of self-assessment and voluntary compliance.
Tax Education team lead, Kamukama Ivan played a crucial role in helping taxpayers understand different taxes, computations and addressing concerns. He emphasized URA’s commitment to serving better through extended services, tax education and mutual collaboration.
The benefits of the self-assessment regime campaign were also highlighted, aimed at easing compliance and fair tax distribution. Taxpayers were reminded to always know their registration details, URA communication and seek guidance from URA offices and various communication avenues.
Local leaders complemented URA’s efforts, urging traders to comply with government programs. During the Rubanda town council workshop, the area Town Clerk, Begumisa Shipha, emphasized the importance of paying taxes and obtaining trading licenses to ensure business legitimacy.
“This education will help the people understand the role of URA and become complaint,” She said and also requested that URA maintain fairness and professionalism during operations, considering Rubanda’s status as a growing town.
The URA initiative demonstrates its commitment to building a more inclusive and responsive tax system, balancing revenue collection with fairness and understanding. By engaging with local communities and providing targeted training, URA is empowering taxpayers with the knowledge they need to meet their obligations. This effort is crucial for driving economic growth and development in Uganda.
As more town councils are onboarded, URA is poised to make a lasting impact on Uganda’s economic landscape. The authority’s intensive mobilization strategies, including mobile drives and engagement with community leaders, have paid off, with taxpayers demonstrating a heightened understanding of their obligations.
