URA Staff Urged to Restore Taxpayer Trust, Gov't Pushes For 20% Tax-To-GDP Ratio

Finance Minister Henry Musasizi has urged newly recruited Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) staff to make integrity, professionalism and fairness the foundation of their work as Government pushes to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation.

Musasizi made the call at the pass-out ceremony of 174 newly recruited URA staff who completed a one-month leadership training at the Oliver Reginald Tambo School of Leadership.

He told the graduates that their responsibility goes beyond collecting taxes, stressing that every interaction with a taxpayer should help build confidence in URA and Government.

“Every interaction with a taxpayer is an opportunity to build trust in URA and in Government.”

Musasizi said revenue administration must be anchored in fairness, professionalism and integrity, urging the officers to use the information, resources and authority entrusted to them responsibly.

“Your role goes beyond collecting revenue. You have a responsibility to help build a culture in which Ugandans understand that paying taxes is part of building the country we all want,” he said.

He also challenged the new officers to embrace technology and continuous learning while remembering that their ultimate responsibility is to serve Ugandans. “As you receive your certificates today, remember that this is not the destination, but the beginning of a greater responsibility.”

The training comes as Government continues to pursue stronger domestic revenue mobilisation, with the broader objective of raising Uganda’s revenue-to-GDP ratio to 20%.

“Uganda’s economy has grown to Sh250.4 trillion, but our tax-to-GDP ratio remains at about 14%. We must strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation and raise this to at least 20% to finance our development without excessive dependence on borrowing.”

Representing the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Joint Staff Political Commissar, Maj. Gen. Henry Matsiko, noted that, “Successful revenue mobilization and protection is a force multiplier for UPDF, because this way we are guaranteed of adequate budget support to enhance force capacity.”

“Once URA thrives and succeeds, we equally benefit and also domestic efforts of mobilizing internal sources must be supported by everyone, including UPDF.”

Conveying the CDF's message, Matsiko emphasized the current Government posture of “No more sleep, no more corruption, no more laziness and no more politeness on the side of supervisors. It is not going to be business as usual.”

He told the graduands that protecting revenue is guaranteeing sovereignty, urging them to work with conviction, cautious discipline, and ethical behavior, and to avoid indolence and selfish motives.

URA Commissioner General, John Musinguzi Rujoki, revealed that URA has onboarded 2,092 new staff in the last three years and 1,887 have already undergone mindset-change training, 708 at Oliver Reginald Tambo School, 817 at NALI Kyankwanzi and 362 at ESO Garuga.

“We strongly believe this is one of the best trainings that anyone before they work with us must have to understand the needs of our country.”

He assured Government of URA's commitment to deliver on the 20% revenue-to-GDP target.

Acting Commissioner, Tax Academy, Emmanuel Bichetero said the ideological course is not a formality but a deliberate grounding in public service values before technical tax training.

“When you return, we expect renewed purpose and responsibility. You are no longer just new staff in URA. You are now members of the URA workforce.”

He said graduands will now proceed to technical training in tax administration to prepare them for revenue mobilization.

The Commandant of the Oliver Tambo School of Leadership, Brig Gen Justus said the course covered political education, Kiswahili, military science, drills, physical fitness, and study of H.E. the President's selected speeches, plus a field tour to Kawumu Farm and Kapeeka.

“I wish to confirm that the course aim and objectives were fully achieved. You are qualified to be commissioned as cadres of socio-economic transformation,” he said.

He urged them to guard against corruption, sectarianism and soft life, and to love duty, embrace integrity, and be part of the solution.