School proprietors and head teachers in Mbale City have been urged to share tax knowledge acquired from Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) trainings with other staff members in order to close knowledge gaps that continue to affect schools’ compliance with tax obligations.
The call was made during the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) training held at Mbale Resort Hotel, where hundreds of school representatives gathered for a hands-on session aimed at improving their understanding of tax processes.
Speaking at the training, the Mbale Domestic Taxes Station Head, Achem Jolly Rose, revealed that many schools are willing to comply with tax obligations but lack of practical knowledge.
“They do not know what to file, when to file, or how to file,” she said, explaining that even when school bursars are trained, the frequent transfer and recruitment of new staff often brings in people who lack basic knowledge of tax procedures, creating a cycle of non-compliance within many schools.
She therefore urged school leaders to ensure that the knowledge gained during the training is shared with other staff members who handle financial matters.
Bernard Osenda, the Managing Director of Mbale Comprehensive High School, commended URA for consistently engaging the school proprietors’ community and for exercising patience in guiding them towards compliance.
He noted that lack of awareness remains one of the main reasons many schools struggle to meet their tax obligations.
“I have been reminded of my obligations and rights as a taxpayer. I have also learned how penalties and interest accumulate, and that when I pay my taxes early, I avoid them completely,” Osenda said, adding that, “avoiding unnecessary penalties helps schools reduce costs and improve their financial sustainability.”
The training was facilitated by Andrew Kyakonye, a URA tax education officer, who said the sessions were specifically designed to support taxpayers who have not registered for taxes or those who have not been consistently filing and paying their returns.
“We equipped them with practical knowledge of URA processes, which they can pass on to fellow staff in their institutions,” Kyakonye added.
By Dismas Nuwaine
