The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) faces significant challenges amidst economic complexities and fiscal demands in the bid to meet its ambitious revenue target of 31.98 trillion shillings for the 2024/25 financial year,
Addressing stakeholders at the East African Community post-Budget Dialogue hosted at Hotel Africana, Catherine Donovan Kyokunda, the URA Commissioner Legal Services, acknowledged the formidable task of funding a substantial portion of the national budget amounting to 72.136 trillion shillings.
“URA is confronted with the arduous task of revenue collection, which although daunting, remains achievable through collaboration with policymakers, traders, business communities, and industry leaders,” Kyokunda remarked.
Despite the challenges, Kyokunda expressed confidence in URA’s capacity to enhance tax administration, broaden the tax base, and foster better compliance among taxpayers to meet the set revenue target.
She claimed central to URA’s strategy are initiatives aimed at introducing new tax measures and improving operational efficiency through continuous taxpayer education and sensitization campaigns.
The authority’s efforts are pivotal in ensuring a substantial contribution to the national budget, facilitating essential public services, and driving forward crucial development projects across Uganda.
Meanwhile, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, emphasized the indispensable role of taxation as the lifeblood of government finances, essential for infrastructure development and social welfare programs.
Kadaga stressed the imperative of creating an enabling business environment that encourages investments and supports sustainable economic development.
“We must cultivate a tax regime that stimulates investment, fosters business growth, and ensures equitable distribution of budgetary resources across all segments of society,” Kadaga asserted.
Moses Kaggwa, Director of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to engaging civil society and the broader citizenry in policy formulation processes.
Kaggwa affirmed the Ministry’s readiness to leverage dialogue opportunities to enhance public participation in shaping policies that impact national economic strategies and fiscal management.
Collaboration across sectors and robust policy frameworks will be crucial in navigating the fiscal landscape and achieving sustainable economic growth for Uganda as URA navigates the complexities of revenue collection to meet its targets.
