By Paul Kawanguzi
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) held a tax education workshop for women in the business community of Arua, aiming to promote compliance through knowledge sharing and dialogue.
The workshop addressed common challenges, including distinction between taxes and city council fees. Miriam Nziru, a domestic taxes officer, clarified the mishap explaining each tax type.
Sharon Natukunda from the Tax Education division led a session on proper record-keeping. She emphasized that maintaining records helps business owners pay less tax and avoid penalties.
“If you earn below 10 million shillings monthly, you are exempt from certain taxes—but only if you can prove it through proper records,” she explained.
Clare Sanyu, the URA’s Supervisor Stakeholder Mobilization Project Northern Region, condoled with the participants on the recent passing of Dada Nelson, a key business leader, and appreciated his role in bridging the gap between traders and URA.
Sanyu urged the women to apply the knowledge gained and warned them against smuggling, citing a tragic case where a woman died in a fire involving smuggled fuel.
Participants were also cautioned against making cash payments to officers. Instead, they were encouraged to use Payment Registration Numbers (PRNs) to ensure that funds go to the consolidated fund and used for national development.
Women expressed appreciation for the session, with some vowing to avoid smuggled goods. URA also encouraged whistleblowing on smuggling, noting that informants may receive rewards.
