By Stephen Kalema
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament has tasked Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development to fully facilitate tax administrators(Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
While speaking at Uganda Revenue Authority science model workshop in revenue administration this week Jacob Oulanyah said “It’s high time we stop grappling with aid, (which is tax collected by other countries’ citizens), Minister of Finance must start full facilitation of tax administrators so that they can do their job efficiently,” said Oulanyah.
According to Oulanyah, through tax innovation and moral leadership Uganda can find creative and viable ways of collecting revenue to sustain hereconomy. He credited URA for the deliberate effort it has made to embrace and influence every possible avenue in enhancing tax compliance hence expanding the country’s tax base, however he asked them to adopt scientific modes of tax collection and control.
He said; “Science continues to play a vital role in tax Administrations around the globe; however it has been scarcely adopted in the majority of African economies. Tax Administrations in the developed world have embraced science at a much faster pace and scope.”
Mr. Patrick Mukiibi, the acting Commissioner General URA noted that several efforts have been put in place to modernize revenue collection processes, develop staff competence and embrace new methods of doing business to enable the organization to realize its mandate.
“It has become manifestly clear that science is going to become one of the most important pillars for revenue administrations in order to match the deliberate strategic shift by majority of the African Countries to become industrialized. So as URA it’s the right for us to adopt this,”sSaid Mukiibi.
Oulanyah, however ,also tasked URA to continue educating the public about the values of paying taxes to them because they are the source of innovations and backbone of URA.
“URA must teach the public why taxes must be paid you must know that they are the source of innovations and the general reason for your existence.Remember tax education and Innovation are the keys in finding solutions to our financial challenges & will steer us towards Economicindependence.”
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