The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) recently engaged with members of the Weifang Bureau of Investment Cooperation and Promotion, an organization responsible for managing China’s domestic and international investments. The purpose of this meeting was to explore ways to increase Chinese investment in Uganda and to discuss how URA can support Chinese traders throughout the supply chain.
Guo Xingping, Chairman of the Weifang Bureau, highlighted the significant investment potential in Uganda, particularly in the agricultural and industrial sectors. “Last year, our exports and imports amounted to USD 50 billion and USD 817 million respectively across 70 countries. We are now focusing on Uganda’s potential and aim to develop strategies to enhance our supply chain operations, from warehousing to transportation,” said Xingping.
Godfrey Okaka, the Assistant Commissioner of Field Services at URA, emphasized Uganda’s growing market, noting its population of 45 million people and the larger East African Community (EAC) with 250 million people. “Our President is committed to wealth creation by integrating everyone into production and the market economy. We view this partnership positively and are eager to support your business ventures,” Okaka stated.
National Medical Stores Visits URA to Learn Best Practices in Communication
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) recently hosted a team from the National Medical Stores (NMS) for a benchmarking visit focused on communication and IT processes. The visit aimed to provide NMS with insights into effective communication strategies and IT systems used by URA.
During the visit, the NMS team was introduced to various aspects of URA’s communication practices, including crisis communication, digital media utilization, branding, stakeholder management, and IT systems.
Robert Kalumba, the Acting Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs at URA, shared valuable lessons on managing crises. He emphasized the importance of staying calm during emergencies and using media channels to communicate clearly through statements and press releases. Kalumba also advised against providing incomplete information, recommending that the team gather all relevant facts before making public statements.
Ibrahim K. Bbossa, the Assistant Commissioner of Tax Education, provided an overview of URA’s role and responsibilities. He clarified that URA’s primary functions are collecting, assessing, and accounting for revenue. “We are accountable to our supervisors, but we often end up being accountable to taxpayers due to our direct interactions with them,” Bbossa noted.
By the end of the benchmarking visit, NMS Staff claimed they had gained insights into best practices in public relations, strategies for enhancing brand reputation, and general public relations management.
