Bishop Sturt University Students Turn Tax Lessons into Community Lifeline as URA Program Sparks New ‘Tax Ambassadors’ in Mbarara

By Mulengera Reporters

A quiet but powerful transformation is taking shape among university students in western Uganda. At Bishop Stuart University, students are stepping beyond the classroom and using newly acquired tax knowledge to help people in their communities understand and comply with tax obligations.

The shift follows a tax education training organized by Uganda Revenue Authority under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA) program, an initiative aimed at equipping students with practical skills to support taxpayers.

For some students, the impact has been immediate.

Among those benefiting from the training is Williams Kato Tukwatse, the publicity secretary of the university’s Tax Society. Tukwatse explained that the training had equipped him with knowledge and practical skills that now allow him to assist people within his community, particularly by helping them file tax returns and understand basic tax processes.

He noted that many people in the community often struggle with tax matters because they find the systems confusing or intimidating. With the skills gained from the training, he said he is now able to guide them through the process and help them comply more easily.

The training session that sparked this change was led by Isaac Aijuka, the Acting Supervisor for Tax Education Outreach in Southwestern Uganda. During the engagement, Aijuka encouraged the students to take an active interest in the country’s tax system and recognize their role in promoting tax compliance.

He explained that young people, especially university students, have the ability to influence their communities positively by sharing knowledge about taxes and helping others understand their responsibilities.

Students were also introduced to the digital platforms that make it easier for taxpayers to access services from Uganda Revenue Authority.

During the training, tax education specialist Ivan Kamukama guided students through URA’s digital services. He demonstrated how taxpayers can register for a Tax Identification Number (TIN), file tax returns, and access other services using the URA online portal and mobile application.

The demonstration helped simplify processes that many students previously thought were complicated.

The Patron of the BSU Tax Society, Arnold Mwebesa Nehayo, expressed appreciation to URA for bringing the tax education program to the university. Nehayo noted that the initiative was important because it prepared students for life after graduation while also equipping them with knowledge that allows them to access services that previously appeared complex or costly.

He added that such training empowers students not only academically but also practically, enabling them to understand systems that many citizens struggle to navigate.

The VITA program forms part of a broader engagement strategy by Uganda Revenue Authority aimed at universities across the country.

Through these programs, URA seeks to build tax awareness among students while nurturing a generation of young ambassadors who can promote voluntary tax compliance in their communities.

Officials believe that when students understand tax systems and processes, they become valuable sources of information in their communities, helping bridge the knowledge gap that often discourages many citizens from fulfilling their tax obligations.

In Mbarara, the impact of the initiative is already beginning to spread beyond the university campus.

Students who have received the training are sharing their knowledge with friends, families, and local businesses, gradually helping more people understand how to engage with the tax system.

As more young people gain practical tax skills through initiatives like the VITA program, Uganda Revenue Authority hopes they will play an important role in strengthening Uganda’s culture of voluntary tax compliance while also empowering communities with knowledge that makes tax services easier to access. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).