The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) is moving to strengthen taxpayer identification by replacing individual Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) with National Identification Numbers (NINs), in a reform intended to improve tax administration and make it easier to identify taxpayers accurately.
The initiative, reported by New Vision on October 12, 2026, follows Cabinet approval of the transition, which is designed to address weaknesses in the existing identification system and strengthen the link between taxpayers and their tax obligations.
URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki has explained that the current system has presented identification and security challenges, including instances in which one individual could hold multiple TINs.
Under the proposed arrangement, the NIN issued through the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) will become the principal identifier for individual taxpayers.
The change is expected to help URA establish more reliable taxpayer records, reduce opportunities for misuse of tax identities and support more effective revenue collection.
The reform also fits into the Government’s wider ambition to raise Uganda’s tax-to-GDP ratio to approximately 20% over the coming years by expanding the tax base and improving compliance.
By linking taxpayer identification to the national identification system, URA is seeking to strengthen the integrity of its records while supporting a more coordinated approach to public service delivery.
The transition is part of broader efforts to modernise tax administration and improve the systems through which Government mobilises domestic revenue.
