In Lamwo district, the heat of the dry season is no match for the enthusiasm of Akwari David, the station head of Kitgum Domestic Taxes. As he oversees operations in the district, he knows that the dry season brings business opportunities for locals.
To cater to these businesses, URA’s mobile office, the Tujenge Bus has been stationed in Palabek Kal Town Council.
Kitara Joseph, a 52-year-old retail shop owner was one of the first locals to visit the Tujenge bus. Within 15 minutes, he received his tax clearance certificate.
“I have been spared the dusty, expensive journey to Kitgum,” he said with a smile, relieved that he no longer had to close his shop for a day to access URA services.
The Tujenge bus is part of a broader two-week URA tax education campaign across East Acholi. This outreach has covered several districts, including Kitgum, Agago, Amuru, Pader and Lamwo.
Local leaders have welcomed URA’s presence, emphasizing the need for continued engagement. Palabek Kal LCIII Chairperson, Okiya Noel, highlighted the importance of educating the public on their tax obligations.
“Many people do not fully understand their tax obligations. Some confuse local council fees with URA taxes, assuming they are being taxed twice,” he explained.
The collaborative approach is already making an impact. In Pantogo Town Council, Agago District, the LCIII Chairperson Komakech Joseph invited URA to train local leaders on registering Tax Identification Numbers (TINs).
The training helped counter misinformation about URA services. Laika Dusuman, a Senior Accounts Assistant from Patongo Town Council, attended the training and pledged to use her knowledge to help locals register for TINs at no cost.
Meanwhile, the Tujenge Bus initiative is part of URA’s efforts to expand the tax bracket and realize more revenue for the country.
Commissioner General John R. Musinguzi recently emphasized that continued countrywide tax education excursions are crucial to achieving this goal.
“When we have a targeted and sector-based tax education effort that speaks to the characteristics of all taxpayers all over the country, especially those in the informal sector, we are able to reduce hostility towards payment of taxes,” he noted.
Through the Tujenge efforts, URA is already receiving positive results. In the first half of the financial year, URA aimed to collect UGX 14.92 trillion out of its annual target of UGX 31.37 trillion. The taxman exceeded this target by collecting UGX 15.25 trillion, 102.16% of the goal, surpassing expectations by UGX 322.14 billion.
With 48.61% of the annual target already achieved, URA is well on track to meeting its revenue collection goal for the year.
Isaac Gyagenda, the Ag. Supervisor for Tax Education Outreach in Northern Uganda, has emphasized that the ongoing Tujenge bus initiatives are bridging information gaps, bringing services closer to taxpayers, and fostering a culture of compliance.
By Dismas Nuwaine
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