The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with His Majesty Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the United Kingdom. The purpose of this partnership is to collaborate on various initiatives, including capacity building and the exchange of information between the two tax authorities.
The MoU was formally signed by John Musinguzi, the Commissioner General of URA, and Rachel Austin, the head of International Capacity Building at HMRC. This agreement marks the beginning of a formalized relationship aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two organizations.
At present, URA and HMRC are already working together in areas such as human resources and tax investigation. Rachel Austin noted that the MoU will pave the way for expanded collaboration, allowing for a deeper exchange of expertise and resources.
John Musinguzi expressed his gratitude for HMRC’s support and expressed a desire to further extend the scope of collaboration between the two entities. Specifically, he emphasized the importance of support in change management, particularly in helping taxpayers adapt to technological advancements and transition smoothly.
Richard Kariisa, the Commissioner of Corporate Services at URA, echoed Musinguzi’s sentiments and emphasized the significance of change management in facilitating organizational development and efficiency.
Dennis Kugonza, the Commissioner of Tax Investigations at URA, commended HMRC for its assistance in various areas, including cryptocurrency investigation methodology and advanced technical training in cybercrime. He also highlighted the importance of collaboration in enhancing URA’s capabilities in online investigations.
Catherine Kyokunda, the Commissioner of Legal Services and Board Affairs at URA, emphasized the positive impact of such collaborations on URA’s operations. She noted that partnerships with organizations like HMRC provide valuable opportunities for learning and benchmarking, ultimately contributing to the continuous improvement of URA’s practices and services.
Catherine states that “the partnership between URA and HMRC represents a significant step towards strengthening taxation practices and improving efficiency in revenue collection.”
According to a statement released by URA on its X account, by leveraging each other’s expertise and resources, both organizations stand to benefit from enhanced capacity building and information exchange, ultimately leading to more effective tax administration and enforcement.
